Wartime Mesopotamia-IRAQ and ISRAEL

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                 

2026 Geopolitical Tensions: As of early 2026, reports indicate significant geopolitical tension involving Iraq, with allegations of secret foreign military bases, specifically reported Israeli activity in western Iraq aimed at Iran, causing violations of Iraqi sovereignty and local protests. 

As of May 2026, Iran-backed armed groups operating under the umbrella of the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" have launched multiple attacks targeting Israel, including using drones and cruise missiles, specifically targeting areas like Tel Aviv. These groups, often affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), have maintained that these actions are in retaliation for Israeli actions in the region.  Drone and Missile Attacks: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed responsibility for various missile attacks, including "Arqub-type" cruise missiles targeting Tel Aviv.

Escalation Amidst Iran War: Since a broader conflict escalated in early 2026, Iraq has become a base for further strikes against Israel, with Iran-aligned factions playing a key role.

     Brown area is Western Desert;  the 3 areas are all different deserts

Alleged Israeli Counter-activities: Reports from early May 2026 claim Israel has operated a secret base in the western Iraqi desert to conduct special operations and logistical support to combat these threats and monitor Iran.

Since 2011, Ongoing Instability: Following the U.S. withdrawal, Iraq faced a resurgence of violence, including the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS) and continued small-scale insurgencies in northern Iraq.

Iraq had survived The Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988): A devastating eight-year war initiated by Saddam Hussein against Iran. The report to me was that teens were fighting each other since the older soldiers were killed in the fighting.  I had made Aliyah to Israel in 1980 and never was bothered by attacks since these two were busy fighting each other.  

They had only 2 years to get their act together when hit by the  Gulf War (1990–1991): U.S.-led coalition forced Iraq out of Kuwait after its invasion. 

Since October 2023, Iraq has defied the odds. Despite extraordinary external pressures and deep state fragilities, the Iraqi government has kept the country out of regional wars. 

Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani was born in 1930, making him 96 years old. Sistani met with Pope Francis on 6 March 2021 when 91 during the latter's visit to Iraq. They met for about 40 minutes in Sistani's home in Najaf.  It is said to have been a meeting with Pope Francis in 2021 to promote peaceful coexistence.  Perhaps now he can count on the Pope or all Popes to be on his side.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gduSnLR_Pq8

Iraq’s political and religious leaders, including the powerful Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, have committed to protecting Iraq’s hard-earned stability. (Oy vey!) 

In October 2023, during the Gaza war, Sistani issued a statement in which he 'condemned Israel and called on the world to stand up to the “terrible brutality” in besieged Gaza.

 On 23 September 2024, Sistani's office issued a statement condemning the 'brutal Zionist aggression' in Lebanon amidst an intensified Israeli airstrike campaign in the country, urging the international community to uphold the protection of civilians and restore peace in the region.

 On 28 September 2024, Sistani mourned the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and condemned his assassination in an Israeli airstrike the previous day. (He's a typical Shia Ayatollah in this respect).  

 In March 2026, Sistani issued a fatwa framing solidarity with Iran as a "collective duty" amid regional tensions and US-Israeli aggression. However, this is largely seen as a move to maintain stability against external threats, despite his known opposition to Iran's model of direct clerical rule (Wilayat al-Faqih).

Nizar Mohammed Saeed Amidi (born 8 February 1968) 58 years old,  is an Iraqi engineer and politician who has served as president of Iraq since 2026. A member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), he previously served as the minister of environment in the government of prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani from 2022 to 2024.  

 2026:  Nizar Amedi is the current President of Iraq, having been elected by the Iraqi parliament on April 11, 2026. Under the informal muhasasah power-sharing agreement adopted by the ruling elite in Iraq since 2003, the prime minister must be a Shia Muslim, the parliamentary speaker a Sunni Muslim, and the president, largely a ceremonial office, must be a Kurd^] In contrast to previous agreements between the two ruling Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK) wherein it would be so that the federal presidency be held by the latter and the presidency of Kurdistan Region by the former, KDP nonetheless nominated Fuad Hussein for the 2026 Iraqi presidential election, challenging Amedi for the office. Because of the dispute, the December 2025 and February 2026 sessions of parliament postponed the presidential vote. This prevented the appointment of a new prime minister for five months following the November 2025 parliamentary election, because the prime minister is nominated by the president.  The Kurds couldn't get their act together when they should have.  

After being elected, Amidi said he will govern on the basis of "Iraq First" principles, condemning attacks on the territory of Iraq during the Israeli–U.S. war with Iran and supporting peace efforts.

 Idan Amedi has shown strong, public empathy and solidarity towards the Israeli Druze community, referring to them as "brothers" rather than "cousins." He has praised their warmth, hospitality, and dedication to Israel, specifically honoring the families of Druze fallen heroes during visits to their communities.  (Does he see them as co-partners against Israel like he may have had with the Pope?  He's good a making friends, for his reasons.  )

Iraq cannot make peace with Israel today due to deep-seated domestic anti-Israel sentiment, a 2017 law criminalizing ties, and severe intimidation from Iranian-backed paramilitary factions that control major political and security sectors. Iraq's dependency on Iran is enforced through these militias (Hashd al-Shaabi) and high reliance on Iranian energy imports  (energy or weapons?)  

Resource:

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/iraq-must-not-be-a-staging-ground-for-war-with-iran/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_al-Sistani

What The Pope Conveyed To Israel In His Letter That Is Causing Such Anti- Semitism To Kick Up

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                      Here the Pope is prayng:  Pope Francis attends a prayer for peace at Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)  (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)              

Pope Francis prays in Rome before the ‘Nativity of Bethlehem 2024,’ upon its inauguration in the Paul VI Hall, during the private audience with donors of the nativity scene and the lighting of the Christmas tree ceremony at St Peter’s Square, in the Paul-VI hall at the Vatican on December 7, 2024. (Andreas Solaro/ AFP).  

 A letter he wrote to Middle Eastern Catholics on the first anniversary of the October 7th attack (war) in Israel never mentioned Hamas by name or made explicit reference to its atrocities, including the hostages. The war began when Hamas terrorists attacked southern Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, murdering 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages back to Gaza.  Almost 100 of them are still being held, and no one knows if any are alive or dead and it's now the 28th of December, 2024.  Israel has explained that it seeks to minimize civilian fatalities and stresses that Hamas uses Gaza’s civilians as human shields, fighting from civilian areas including homes, hospitals, schools, and mosques. This is a fact and has been proven correct, but it doesn't change the Pope's pronouncement against Israel and nary a word about the Hamas terrorists that are really responsible. 

This letter was to Middle Eastern Catholics, who have been severely impacted by the ongoing war. He urges that Catholics “must never tire of imploring peace from God” and calls for a day of prayer and fasting to “defeat our one true enemy: the spirit of evil that foments war, because it is ‘murderous from the beginning,’ ‘a liar and the father of lies’ ([John] 8:44).”   (Ethan Schwartz, October 10, 2024)   Biblical interpreters have long wrestled with the vicious anti-Jewish rhetoric of John's gospel including, mostly famously, when Jesus calls Jews “children of the devil” (8:44). Post-Shoah, the anti-Jewish rhetoric of John's gospel is even more horrifying.                             

The letter also quoted passages from the Gospel of John that have historically been used to fuel religious antisemitism.  (RNS) — Regardless of Francis’ intentions, he invoked a dangerous legacy when he chose John 8:44 to characterize ‘our one true enemy’ in his letter to Middle Eastern Catholics. The enemy, he went on, was  the spirit of evil that foments war, because it is ‘murderous from the beginning,’ ‘a liar and the father of lies’ ([John] 8:44).” It's said to be a disaster for Jewish-Catholic relations.  

 The Second Vatican Council of the 1960s, which modernized the Catholic Church and, as part of that process, renounced Catholic antisemitism — including the allegation that the Jews are eternally responsible for Jesus’ death. Pope Francis has championed Vatican II, earning him the adoration of liberals and the ire of traditionalists.  This has made the Israel-Hamas war especially complicated for Francis. 

I feel he should be honest about the doings of Hamas and what they have been doing to Israel for the past 40 years.  Ethan Schwartz, writer of my resource:  This is Dr. Ethan Schwartz - the newest member of our faculty. He received his Ph.D. in spring 2020 from Harvard, and comes to us from Chicago where he most recently taught at Loyola. He focuses his work on contemporary issues of Jewish-Catholic dialogue and seeks to demonstrate, through critical study, how the Bible can be religiously enriching for both Jews and Christians. said that "mortal fear of Catholics has been a common feature of Jewish history, but it’s actually new for me. I’m a professor at a Catholic university, where I teach biblical studies to eager Catholic students and maintain friendships with cherished Catholic colleagues. "  He thinks that "Pope Francis has championed Vatican II, earning him the adoration of liberals and the ire of traditionalists," and this may be true, but I and others think that those were challenging words ready to bring on more anti-Semitism.  

Ethan said, "He needs to balance his commitments to the Middle Eastern (including Palestinian) Catholic community and his relations with a global Jewish community that overwhelmingly supports Israel. His Oct. 7 letter reflects this balance, sticking to politically safe generalities about peace." 

We see the letter completely different.  It's what he left out that's bad; Hamas and their dealings, putting false notions in people's minds about Jews from the results of this war, the horrid atrocities of Hamas they performed on the Jews ; and the holding of hostages and the torture they are under.  

What had upset Ethan also upsets me terribly.  He said,
" What triggered my fear was not the Pope’s message but rather his citation of John 8:44 to articulate that message. As a Jewish Bible scholar, I know the phrases “murderous from the beginning” and “a liar and the father of lies” are not just any biblical references. Rather, they are part of arguably the single most anti-Semitic verse in the New Testament.

Foreign Ministry Director General Eyal (Eden) Bar-Tal summoned the Vatican's ambassador to Israel, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, for a meeting to convey Israel's displeasure at the Pope's blatantly anti-Israel public comments.  The Gospel of John was written by a Jewish-Christian in the late first century A.D. for a community that had recently been expelled from their synagogue. The Gospel's language is sometimes intentionally antagonistic toward Jewish tradition and sensitivities.  Although John affirms the Jewishness of Jesus, at times the evangelist has Jesus address the Jews as an outsider. According to this gospel, the Hellenistic Jews regarded Jesus as both lawbreaker and blasphemer. John even implies that the Jews as a whole were responsible for the crucifixion.  

Killing G-d?  Yes, they spoke of him and to him as a god, which he seemed to allow, though he himself wasn't written about to have said so.  It was very similar to what has been going on in the politics for President  of the USA lately, and running down each other's competition.  Of course, Jews were warned by Moses to never accept a human as a god; and that there was but one g-d!  That's what got us in trouble with the world in the beginning;  all others were polytheistic and we were monotheistic.         

 Adolfo Tito Camacho Yllana (born 6 February 1948) is a Philippine prelate of the Catholic Church who works in the diplomatic service of the Holy See. He has been an archbishop and apostolic nuncio since 2001, the Apostolic Nuncio to Israel as well as Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine since June 2021.  His first diplomatic posts were in Ghana, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Lebanon, Hungary and Taiwan. On 3 June 2021, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and to Cyprus as well as Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine.(As yet, there is no accepted Palestine.)  

As for Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem is the Catholic leader who presides over Latin Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus. The current Latin patriarch is Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was appointed in 2020. 

The Pope of Rome is the bishop of Rome and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church's government, known as the Holy See. The Pope's authority is limited to intervening in a diocese when a bishop violates Church law or dogma. The Pope's role is to maintain the unity of the Church, not to directly manage every diocese. 

The Nuncio is another Catholic leader in Israel who has both diplomatic and theological functions. The Nuncio's role includes representing the Catholic Church, caring for the well-being of Catholics in Israel, and intervening with authorities on behalf of Catholics.                            

The Greek Orthodox Church is also in Jerusalem.   It's also known as the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem: Established in the mid-5th century, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem is one of the oldest patriarchates in Christianity. It's considered to be the continuation of the first Christian community, with St. James, the brother of Jesus, as its first bishop. The patriarchate's headquarters are in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The patriarchate's jurisdiction includes around 200,000 to 500,000 Orthodox Christians in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. The patriarchate has been the main custodian of Christian holy places in Jerusalem since the 7th century. The patriarchate is led by the patriarch of Jerusalem, who is currently Theophilos III. The patriarch and bishops are all Greek and come from the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre. There are many Greek Orthodox churches in Jerusalem, including the Church of St. John the Baptist and the Birthplace of the Virgin Mary.

Israel had a Christian TV Channel, but GOD TV: Was ordered to shut down in June 2020 for violating Israel's laws on proselytism.  After all the anti-Semitism we Jews have had to endure during the past 4,000 years, we are sure of ourselves being one with our own religion of Judaism, so please respect us in this.  

Resource:

Israel AM

Read Daniel Silva's books that take place in Rome with the different characters of the Pope and others.  

https://religionnews.com/2024/10/10/popes-oct-7-letter-citing-antisemitic-verse-is-a-disaster-for-jewish-catholic-relations/

https://brill.com/view/journals/bi/31/3/article-p374_006.xml?language=en#:~:text=Biblical%20interpreters%20have%20long%20wrestled,gospel%20is%20even%20more%20horrifying.

Most Well Received Comment From Pope Francis

Nadene Goldfoot                                                                               

I've been listening to Pope Francis address the many people of our American government this morning.  The thing that surprised me was that there was a picture of Moses on the wall and he addressed Moses. 
                                                                           

Then he spoke about the Golden rule.  I wandered if any realized that came from Hillel, a rabbi from the 1st century BCE.  Hillel had been born in Babylonia being part of the Jews who had been taken from their homeland in Judah by the Babylonians in their attacks in 597 and 586 BCE.  He had been able to move and settled in Palestine.   He then eked out a living by doing manual labor while studying with the greatest of rabbis, Shemaiah and Avtalyon.  Later, he himself became president of the Sanhedrin.  He was noted for his humility and tendency to leniency.

The Christians have changed this comment since he had said it as thus:  Don't do to others what you would not want done to you.  It had come about when someone had asked him to hurry and tell him the essence of Judaism while standing on one foot, and he commented with what was then known as the "Golden Rule."  Now the Christians speak of it as Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Pope  told his audience that this is the yardstick that we will be measured by.  Yes, we Jews have always thought this.  I repeat, this is the essence of Judaism.
                                                                         

Netanyahu also commented on the image of Moses on the wall when he addressed Congress. "Netanyahu was referencing a marble relief that has hung in the House chamber since 1950, just two years after the modern state of Israel was founded. The bas relief was sculpted of white Vermont marble by artist Jean de Marco, according to the Architect of the Capitol." 

 Netanyahu had said to the listeners, "He then quoted Deuteronomy 31:6, Moses’ parting words to the Israelites, in Hebrew: “Be strong and resolute, neither fear nor dread them.”  It was nice to know that the Pope thought well of Moses being he brought the Israelites The Laws that were to create a better civilization.  
                                                                                       

 Jean de Marco in his studio, Peter A. Juley & Son Collection, Smithsonian American Art Museum J0001457

"The artist, Jean  Antoine de Marco, AKA Jean de Marco, was born in Paris, France 1898 and died in 1990, probably in New York City. He was one of our immigrants.  De Marco's work often had religious themes or subjects. Examples of his religious work may be seen at Notre Dame University, the House of Theology in Centerville, Ohio, and the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. His non-religious works include those at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum, and the War Memorial at the Presidio in San Francisco." 

 Does that mean that Moses is not considered "religious?"  What?  Was he to the world just considered a political leader, a philosopher  or simply a leader leading some people on a trek?  Or is it that religious figures cannot be in the Congress's building like the 10 Commandments?  Do they realize it was Moses who gave us the 10 Commandments?  

                                                                         
Reference: NBC TV News
http://time.com/3730272/benjamin-netanyahu-moses-sculpture/
http://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2015/09/pope-francis-ignoring-jews-on-white.html
http://time.com/4048176/pope-francis-us-visit-congress-transcript/

Pope Francis Ignoring Jews on White House Visit

Nadene Goldfoot                                                

The Pope from Rome is coming to meet and speak with President Obama today.  Tonight just happens to be Erev Yom Kippur, meaning the night that the Jewish holiest day of the year is starting.  Coincidence?

Yom Kippur is very special.  Most Jews, if they are able, will attend their synagogue tonight for Kol Nidre and tomorrow morning for Yom Kippur.  They will be fasting after dinner tonight for 25 hours-without drinking any water, which is quite hard to do.  Our narrative is that Moses wrote the 5 books of Moses.  It was Moses who told us to do this.  In Leviticus, 16:29, it says,

"This shall remain for you an eternal decree:  In the 7th moth, on the 10th of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and you shall not do any work, neither the native nor the proselyte who dwells among you.

For on this day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before HaShem (translation: (the Word-G-d) shall you be cleansed.

It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you, and you shall afflict yourselves;  an eternal decree.  The Kohen, who has been anointed or who has been given the authority to serve in place of his father, shall provide atonement;  he shall don the linen vestments, the sacred vestments....This shall be to you an eternal decree to bring atonement upon the children of Israel for all their sins once a year;  and Aaron did as HaShem commanded Moses."

Kohens are the descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses.  This holiday we will start to celebrate tonight is Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year when our affliction is to fast for  repentance. Many Cohens serving in the synagogue today are really ancestors of the Kohens bearing J1 or J2 DNA haplogroup.  Moses is said to have died in 1271 BCE, so we have been having Yom Kippur for 3,286 years.  Now, Jews make up only about 2% of the American population, but it is mighty strange that the Pope wanted to meet Obama today on such an auspicious Jewish holiday.  Coincidence, you say?  The Pope knows exactly what day today is the start of.

This is indeed a first.  It's the first time Obama will host the Pope who will also be addressing a special session of the House and Senate together.
                                                               

A Jesuit priest from Argentina, ex officio as Bishop of Rome, and Sovereign of the Vatican City.  Argentina was a country where many Nazis had escaped to after WWII.  I met several Argentinian Jews in my Ulpan in Israel who were learning Hebrew with me.  By 1990, there were 228,000 Jews living in Argentina, mainly in Buenos Aires.  They have been an important part of Argentina's development of industry and commerce.  Assimilation has also helped to depopulate Argentina besides those making Aliyah to Israel.  

Obama gathered up some strange groups to greet Pope Francis today.  I think he's trying to make a point.  There will be the first gay Episcopal bishop of USA, a transgender head of a Catholic group, a nun who runs Network who was disapproved of by the Catholic heads for lobbying for Obamacare.  This was a no-no because it's not liked by Catholics or other religious groups as they have been funding abortions and Catholics by the Feds are now asked to provide birth control for their employees, which is also a no-no.  Then there's always that inevitable photo op that people get together for in the first place.  In Obama's mind these people might be looked on by the Pope as sinners because they are going against what he preaches.  I guess Obama is helping him to find people that need to be saved.
                                                                         

Pope Francis at Western Wall in Jerusalem May 25, 2014 on a 3 day visit to Middle East.  Most of time was spent with Jordan.  At least he took a lot of pictures.  

The Pope and Jews today are not getting along well because of his goings on in the Middle East, visiting Jordan  while holding property in Jerusalem.   The Pope went against Israel completely when he signed a treaty with the PA (Palestinian Authority with Abbas) in which he recognized Palestine as a state. This happened in February 2013.  This is a legal document and constitutes an official recognition.   It is not truly officially one as yet,through the UN,  though they have been trying.  Trying by attacking Israel from Gaza, and being  split and together and split again from Hamas which are terrorists.

Because the Pope did this, Israel's Sanhedrin passed judgement on Pope Francis on September 8th of this year.  A trial and judgement took place on the 20th.  Pope Francis was called  in a summons.  He ignored it, coming to the USA on today.  He was then judged in absentia.  His decision to recognize the Palestinians as a state is the cause of the trial.   Today's Sanhedrin is a religious high court of 71 rabbis.  The Pope's statement that the Jews have no right to the land of Israel or to Jerusalem was shocking.  Now the Pope has switched the relations from the PLO to the State of Palestine.  It's a treaty.
                                                                         

Pope Francis and Abbas, head of the Palestinians, the "angel of peace." The two men have much in common, almost same age, both heads of an observer state at UN. 

The Pope has also gone as far as calling Abbas an angel of peace!  In doing all this, Israel sees the significance as the Pope rejecting the Biblical roots of the Jews who live in the land of Israel.  They were led there to live by Moses, and that's what the 5 books all lead up to.  The Jews lived there from 1271 BCE when Moses died till 70 CE when the ROMANS, who had been occupying Jerusalem, attacked the 2nd Temple and burned it down along with the whole city of Jerusalem, causing all the Jews of Judah to flee.

Jews have been very faithful to the Democratic party.  They were attracted by Franklin Delano Roosevelt during WW II when 6 million Jews died in the Holocaust of Europe.  The Democratic Party is like a father to them.  It is said that more than 70% of the Jews of the USA had voted for Obama both times!

Now he's gone against Israel big time by siding with  Iran, a Muslim state who wants to destroy the Jewish state and who we feel is making nuclear power for just that reason.  Up to now, the USA has been Israel's friend, the only  Democratic country sharing values with the USA.

Today the Palestinians are on the same level in the UN with  official observer status, just like the Pope's Vatican.   Of course no Jews should be hanging around the White House today or tomorrow for any receptions or meetings.  They will be in their synagogues.   Such as how our White House schedules events.

The Pope ignored Israel quite a bit when he visited with Jordan recently on his 3 day whirlwind, spending time more with the Palestinians.  .

Resource:  http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/49361/auspicious-timing-of-pope-francis-obama-meeting-on-jewish-judgement-day-jewish-world/?utm_source=Breaking+Israel+News&utm_campaign=4e9c422d54-BIN_morning_09_15&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b6d3627f72-4e9c422d54-83518689#4rwxY7SHRDXbfqg7.97
http://popefrancisholyland2014.lpj.org/
http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/pope-francis-visits-the-holy-land/
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.595477
http://www.haaretz.com/travel-in-israel/religion-relics/pope-holy-land-visit/1.592611
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Pope-Franciss-unfriendly-visit-354557