Your fair and balanced religious news from the Middle East

5 December 2008

Not quite a month ago, in Jerusalem, Greek Orthodox and Armenian monks demonstrated their deep respect for “turning the other cheek” by brawling over turf in the Church of the Holy Sepulchure.

Yesterday, in Gaza, Hamas demonstrated its deep respect for a pillar of Islam by refusing to let any Gazans make the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Today, in Hebron, after Jewish settlers were evicted from the so-called “House of Peace” they were occupying, they demonstrated their deep respect for Deuteronomy 20:19 by burning Palestinians’ olive trees.

• Later: How not to lay out your table
• Earlier: Democratic tragedy