Focus on the Middle East

On 7 October 2023, the Islamist terrorist organisation Hamas attacked Israeli Jewish villages and a music festival near the Gaza Strip, murdering more than 1,200 people and kidnapping more than 200. Israel responded with an extensive military operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip - an action that not only targeted terrorists, but also claimed numerous victims among the civilian population. The Middle East conflict, which has been going on for decades, has escalated once again and seems more insoluble than ever. In view of these developments, can we still hope for peace and reconciliation? we talk to Abbot Dr Nikodemus Schnabel OSB about these and other questions. The Benedictine monk has lived in Jerusalem since 2003 and has been abbot of the Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion since 2023, so he knows the conditions on the ground up close and from a very special perspective. He will give us a personal insight into the current situation in the Middle East. However, the discussion will not only focus on recent events and their impact, but also on the coexistence of different religions and cultures in Jerusalem and the situation of the Christian population in the Holy Land, after which you will have the opportunity to formulate your questions to Abbot Nicodemus Schnabel and contribute to the concluding discussion and Q&A session.