Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni speaks with Pope Francis during an inter-religious prayer for peace at the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Oct. 25, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Remo Casilli

This past Passover, I had the privilege to meet Archbishop Thomas Wenski, who delivered a powerful message about antisemitism and support for the Jewish community at the annual leadership seder hosted by the American Jewish Committee (AJC) of Miami and Broward.

As an Israeli, my upbringing within an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community in Jerusalem was guided by rabbis who influenced every decision my family made, instilling in me a strong sense of identity and community. Never did I imagine that one day I would have the chance to meet a highly respected leader of the Catholic Church in Miami — the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Miami.

Archbishop Wenski, who served under Pope Francis — who sadly passed away this week — spoke passionately about antisemitism and reiterated his unwavering support for the Jewish people. He emphasized the evolving relationship between the Catholic Church and the Jewish community, whom they regard as older brothers and an integral part of their collective faith. He acknowledged our shared spiritual heritage and the urgent need to foster a deeper sense of unity, respect, and commitment to combating antisemitism.

He highlighted that the teachings of various popes over the past eight decades unequivocally denounce antisemitism as a sin.

Specifically, he referenced the insights of Pope John Paul II, explaining that in the aftermath of the Holocaust, four popes — Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis — have played significant roles in reshaping the Church’s perspective. This shift has led to a noteworthy recognition of Jews as brothers in faith and a steadfast commitment to combating hate and discrimination in all its forms.

The passing of Pope Francis, marked the loss of a reformer known for his dedication to “the poorest” and his commitment to building relationships with Jewish people. On February 2, 2024, Pope Francis addressed his “Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel,” firmly denouncing any form of antisemitism as “a sin against God.”

I often remind people from all walks of life that Israel is a land where various religions can coexist harmoniously, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Druze, among others. Each of these communities contributes to the rich mosaic of our society, bringing with them their traditions, languages, and histories connected to the land of Israel.

Pope Francis will be missed — and I hope his successor will also be a stalwart for the Jewish people.

Ayelet Raymond is an Israel activist, and the creative force behind the @Kosher Barbie character and social media personality. She is also the titleholder of Miss Universe Israel Netanya,

The post Reflecting on the Loss of Pope Francis, and the Church’s Views of the Jewish People first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists gather at a mourning house for Palestinians who were killed during Israel-Gaza fighting, as a ceasefire holds, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

While the future of the Gaza Strip is yet unknown, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is busy suggesting a solution that will destroy Israel as a Jewish state.

Reacting to US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate the Gazan Arabs from the Gaza Strip, PA chief Mahmoud Abbas and other top PA leaders are calling for a “return” of Gazan “refugees” to places in Israel that they claim are “their homes and villages” in “Palestine”:

Mahmoud Abbas: All Palestinian “refugees” in Gaza should “return to their cities” in Israel

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas: “Today, 2.3 million Palestinians live in the Gaza Strip, of whom 1.5 million are refugees who sought refuge after they were expelled from their lands in 1948, during which they were subjected to more than 50 massacres by the Zionist terrorist gangs.

If the Americans want a solution – the only place they [the refugees] need to return to is their cities and villages from which they were expelled during the Nakba ([.e., “the catastrophe,” the establishment of Israel], to implement UN Resolution 194. … [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV News, Feb. 15, 2025]

Abbas’ advisor: Abbas said Gazans should return to “their homes and villages” in Israel

PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash: “[PA] President Mahmoud Abbas clearly said: If there is a possibility of the Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip, let it be to their cities and villages from which their [Palestinian] families were expelled in 1948

… Because 75% of the residents of the Gaza Strip are originally refugees from historical Palestine. If they [Israelis] want them to leave, let them return to their homes, their cities, and their villages.” [emphasis added]

[PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ Advisor on Religious Affairs and Islamic Relations Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, March 22, 2025]

Abbas’ advisor: “Refugees” from Gaza “should return” to Israel, all else is “unrealistic, immoral, illegal”

Al-Habbash: “More than 70% of the civilians living in the Gaza Strip are refugees whose families were expelled in 1948 during the Nakba. They were expelled from Palestine. Any uprooting of them, any leaving by them from the Gaza Strip should be a return to their cities and villages from which their families were expelled in 1948.

Anything other than this is unrealistic, immoral, illegal, inhumane, unimplementable, and the Palestinians cannot agree to it.” [emphasis added]

[Mahmoud Al-Habbash, YouTube channel, Feb. 16, 2025]

Fatah Spokesman calls for “right of return”: Gazans should “return to land and homes” in Israel

Fatah Spokesman Abd Al-Fattah Doleh: “If they [the US and Israel] want to talk about something related to [Palestinian] migration, they should talk about the Palestinian people’s right to return to its land and homes from which it was expelled.

A large number of Gaza residents are refugees and uprooted people who need to return to their land that was occupied in 1948 and 1967. This is the only solution related to the Palestinian people’s rights, only return.” [emphasis added]

[Al-Bawaba (Egyptian news website), YouTube channel, March 11, 2025]

The Fatah Revolutionary Council issued a summary statement from a convention in February 2025, in which they also stressed that:

“Given the uprooting plans, it is necessary to implement the right of return, as explicitly stated in the UN General Assembly resolution 194 in 1949. Any return or population movement must be to the cities and villages from which our fathers and grandfathers were uprooted in 1948…” [emphasis added]

[Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Feb. 23, 2025]

Human rights activist: Palestinians have “a right” to flood Israel, “to return to their homes in the 1948” territories

Director of the Al-Haq Institute for Human Rights Sha’awan Jabarin: “We believe that it is our people’s right to enjoy freedom and independence, and it is the right of our refugees to return to their land and their homes, and I don’t mean to return only to the 1967 [territories], but rather to their homes in the 1948 [territories] [i.e., all of sovereign Israel].

I say here that this is a legal, legitimate, and fundamental right.” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV News, March 31, 2025]

For many Arabs and Palestinians, the thought of Palestinian “refugees returning” heralds the end of Israel, something they consider a “historic right” and a “promise” that Allah will surely fulfill.

PA TV serves as platform for call for the “end of Israel”

Egyptian Al-Azhar Cleric Sheikh Yasser Mustafa Younes: “Allah willing, we will all merit to reclaim Jerusalem and all of Palestine from the occupation [Israel] and the Zionist entity, Allah willing, and they will disappear.” [emphasis added]

[Official PA TV, Palestine is Not for Sale, March 8, 2025]

The author is a senior analyst at Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this article was originally published.

The post The Palestinian Authority’s Plan: Flood Israel with Gaza Refugees Who Will ‘Return to Their Cities’ in Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.

China and Egypt have launched their first-ever joint air force drill, “Eagles of Civilization 2025,” at an Egyptian airbase. Photo: Screenshot

China and Egypt launched a large-scale joint military exercise this week near the Israeli border, described by Chinese media as a “historic” first of its kind, aimed at deepening military cooperation amid rising regional tensions.

The joint drills — dubbed “Eagles of Civilization 2025” — began Sunday at an Egyptian Air Force base about 100 kilometers (62 miles) west of the Gulf of Suez and are expected to run through mid-May.

According to Israel’s Channel 12, the drill features Chinese J-10C fighter jets, refueling planes, and KJ-500 early warning aircraft, along with Russian-made MiG-29s flown by Egypt.

This exercise “is the first joint training between the Chinese and Egyptian militaries, which is of great significance to promoting pragmatic cooperation and enhancing mutual trust and friendship between the two militaries,” the Chinese Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.

Egyptian officials said the joint drills, aimed at strengthening military ties, will combine theoretical and practical training to enhance combat doctrines.

“The training will also involve joint aerial sorties, planning exercises, and simulated air combat management operations to exchange expertise and enhance the skills of the participating forces,” an Egyptian armed forces spokesperson said in a statement on social media.

Some experts view Beijing’s growing relationship with Cairo as the country’s latest move to expand its military presence in the Middle East and Africa, challenging the United States as its influence in the region stalls. This move could also help China strengthen ties with regional partners as the country faces mounting economic sanctions from Washington.

While details about Egypt’s military buildup remain unclear, “satellite images have shown the movement of tanks and battalions that exceed the limits set by the Camp David Accords,” Mariam Wahba, research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told The Algemeiner.

Under the peace treaty, Egypt can request permission from Israel to deploy more than the 47 battalions allowed. However, some estimates suggest that there are currently camps for 180 battalions.

“The Camp David Accords have long been a pillar of peace and stability in the Middle East,” Wahba explained. “A breakdown of the agreement would have serious implications, not just for Israel and Egypt but for the broader region.”

“It could embolden actors like Iran and its proxies to exploit tensions and could lead to increased militarization along Israel’s southern border,” Wahba told The Algemeiner.

Egypt’s military buildup, reportedly in response to Israel’s presence at the Philadelphi Corridor and concerns over a potential mass Palestinian exodus into the country, along with Jerusalem’s control of the corridor, could both breach the 1979 peace treaty.

Last month, China, Russia, and Iran held a three-day naval drill in the Gulf of Oman, conducting joint operations in Iranian territorial waters, strengthening their defense cooperation and bolstering their presence in the region.

China’s growing ties with Egypt come at a time when Egyptian relations with Washington are strained, following US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip — potentially to Egypt and other Arab countries — during reconstruction efforts after the war, a plan Cairo has strongly opposed.

“This is a reminder that our partners have options,” Former US CENTCOM Commander Gen. Joseph Votel told The War Zone. “China is positioning itself as a viable military supplier and strategic partner” in the region.

In a rapidly shifting Middle East marked by rising tensions and competing regional power blocs, China and Egypt’s deepening cooperation could reshape regional power dynamics, challenging American influence and diminishing Israel’s strategic flexibility.

Israeli defense officials have previously expressed growing concern over Cairo’s military buildup and armed presence in the Sinai Peninsula.

These concerns come amid escalating tensions between Jerusalem and Cairo since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, particularly over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border, where Egypt has demanded Israel withdraw its forces.

Earlier this year, Jerusalem accused Egypt of violating their decades-old peace treaty, while also raising concerns about Cairo’s expanding defense capabilities.

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