The head of the Roman Catholic Church in Israel has condemned Israeli hate crimes against local Christians and Muslims. Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal told a news conference in the city of Haifa on Sunday that the acts of vandalism “poison the atmosphere” ahead of a visit by Pope Francis to Jerusalem. The Pope’s visit is set to begin in Jordan on May 24 and he is due to spend two days in Israel... 

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal carries the statuette of baby Jesus during the midnight Mass ceremony which marks the beginning of Christmas Day at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Largest amount of pilgrims in a decade visit Bethlehem for Christmas. The largest number of pilgrims in a decade gathered in Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas, with tens of thousands...