RNS Morning Report - Jewish Democrats navigate their own divide on Israel

The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances   A recent House vote to cut military aid to Israel exposed growing divisions among Democrats — including Jewish lawmakers. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who has become increasingly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, joined 102 Democrats in backing the measure despite anticipating backlash.   “I think it’s a sign of health, as well as inevitable, that the Jewish members of Congress would approach this vote from different perspectives,” Raskin told RNS National Reporter Jack Jenkins.   The split reflects broader changes within the party as support for the Israeli government declines, especially among Democrats. Jewish Democratic leaders say the political landscape is shifting quickly.   “It feels like we’re in the middle of a fast-moving change — change is happening as we are speaking,” Halie Soifer, head of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told RNS. “It is hard to fully capture, perhaps, the significance of it.”         Top Stories The House vote that split Jewish Democrats and is reshaping alliances (RNS) — 'I think it's a sign of health, as well as inevitable, that the Jewish members of Congress would approach this vote from different perspectives,' Rep. Jamie Raskin said. Progressive National Baptist young people see signs of welcome but seek less judgment WASHINGTON (RNS) — ‘I feel like also seasoned adults complain about what we're wearing,’ said one teen about her historically Black denomination. US thwarts an Iranian missile attack and launches strikes with Saudi Arabia against militias in Iraq WASHINGTON (AP) — All Iranian missiles launched against American forces in the Middle East were intercepted, U.S. Central Command said, adding that they “remain vigilant and at a high state of readiness.”       Opinion What do we owe the victims of Lindsey Graham’s wars? (RNS) — What do we owe the dead, and what do we owe their victims? Brian Doerksen gave evangelicalism its soundtrack but not its current theology (RNS) — Today's evangelical worship culture often reflects a very different vision of God than the one Doerksen’s songs proclaimed. ICYMI ‘A deal with the devil’: Religion motivates data center opponents in Texas (RNS) — Some see the facilities’ construction as a sign of the apocalypse, while others see it as an opportunity to advocate for environmental stewardship. At Vatican peace concert, Pope Leo XIV tells children music can overcome division VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As wars intensify in Ukraine and the Middle East, Pope Leo XIV joined Israeli and Palestinian children, as well as children from other countries, at Castel Gandolfo for an interfaith concert highlighting music’s power to bridge divisions. Support Our Work As a nonprofit newsroom that covers all faiths, RNS sits uniquely at the intersection of freedom of the press and freedom of religion. News tips or feedback? Email comments@religionnews.com. Like the Morning Report? Share it with a friend. Forwarded this newsletter? Subscribe here. We rely on reader donations to power our reporting. Donate here. Or send a check to: Religion News Foundation PO Box 1808 Columbia, MO 65205

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This Week in Religion - Israeli civilian settler groups sneaking into Syria

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Lead story

Fringe Israeli settler group is sneaking into Syria to try to claim land for a Jewish outpost

Editor's note:

Right-wing Israeli activists are ramping up their fringe campaign to establish Jewish settlements inside Syria by staging frequent incursions across the border. The Israeli army has been occupying the area in southern Syria for a year and a half, but the regular forays by civilian settler groups are a newer development.

The settlers are part of a group called the Pioneers of Bashan. They are named after the biblical Bashan region, which includes part of modern-day Syria and Jordan.

They have their sights set on an area of southwestern Syria that includes the provinces of Quneitra, Daraa and Sweida. Part of this area, including the summit of Mount Hermon, is a “buffer zone” Israel declared in December 2024.

The region was known in Scripture for its fertile land and came to be associated with strength and divine providence. Members of the group claim a historical right to these lands and argue that their presence there will help Israel defend the Golan Heights. 

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Religion News

Released Texas pastors say immigration agents threatened family separation

At a Sunday service after their release, which was backed by a range of Latino evangelical groups, the Assemblies of God pastors urged Christians to speak out for immigrants. By Aleja Hertzler-McCain/Religion News Service

Judge dismisses a lawsuit over makeup of Trump's Religious Liberty Commission

A federal judge tossed out a lawsuit from an interfaith group challenging the legitimacy of President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission, dismissing claims that its overwhelmingly conservative Christian makeup lacked a legally required balance of viewpoints. By Peter Smith/The Associated Press

Booted from evangelicalism, a progressive, ‘post-evangelical’ church blooms in Texas

Led by Zach Lambert, Restore church is part of a small but growing countertrend. By Kathryn Post/Religion News Service

Bosnian authorities investigate desecration and fire damage at Medjugorje Virgin Mary shrine

In 2024, the Vatican gave the green light for Catholics to continue flocking to the Bosnian village of Medjugorje, where children reported seeing visions of the Virgin Mary. The statute of Mary recently was desecrated; authorities are investigating. By The Associated Press

UNESCO adds West Bank site and Lebanese castles to World Heritage List despite Israeli objections

A United Nations committee has inscribed a major archaeological site in the West Bank and a group of castles in southern Lebanon on the World Heritage List. Israel had urged the committee to reject the bids. By Kim Tong-Hyun/The Associated Press

 

Commentary and Analysis

What is Falun Gong and why does the Chinese Communist Party want to suppress it?

An anthropologist who conducted fieldwork among Falun Gong practitioners explains the movement’s beliefs and why its followers continue to resist the Chinese government. By Gareth Fisher for The Conversation

I'm a New York rabbi. Antisemitism is real, and I'm not afraid.

Antisemitic attacks are rising in New York and in the US. So is the danger of believing that's the whole story. By Brad Hirschfield/Religion News Service

The US founders’ other revolutionary choice: Separating religion and government

European colonial powers linked church and state. But the founders of the United States broke from that idea as surely as they broke from Britain. By Peter C. Mancall for The Conversation

The US has acknowledged Bears Ears and Grand Staircase as sacred for over a century, but keeps stripping away protections

Native religions are tied to living landscapes, not points on a map – a scholar of Indigenous studies explains what's at stake. By Kerri J. Malloy for The Conversation

 

Photos of the Week: Paraguayan procession, Lindsey Graham's funeral and more

Parishioners wearing birdlike costumes arrive for the annual procession honoring 16th-century St. Francis Solano in Emboscada, Paraguay, Friday, July 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Jorge Saenz)

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WCC news: WCC General Secretary, leadership of South African Council of Churches meet with South African H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa

World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay and the Presidium of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) met with H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa on 30 July 2026.  H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of the Republic of South Africa, and World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay. Photo: Office of the President of South Africa 30 July 2026 Pillay was accompanied by Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of the South African Council of Churches; Ms Lulama Ntuta, First Vice President of the South African Council of Churches; and Rev. Dr Nioma Venter, Second Vice President of the South African Council of Churches. The delegation was very cordially and warmly received by the President and his team, which included, in addition to the President, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for South Africa Ms Anna Thandi Moraka, and staff from the President’s Office.  The President expressed deep gratitude for the work of the WCC and the SACC, stating how proud they are to have a fellow South African serve as General Secretary of WCC, a very valued and trusted organisation worldwide and locally. The WCC General Secretary expressed gratitude to the President and government for their stand on the Palestine and Israel situation, adding that it was both “courageous and costly but an act of seeking justice and peace in that context.” The discussions then revolved around very pertinent, hard, and sensitive issues such as international peace initiatives amidst wars and conflicts, and the role of leaders in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in promoting peace and unity in the region. An in-depth discussion reflected on the recent xenophobic situation and returning foreigners to their respective countries. Discussions also included corruption with specific reference to the Phala Phala issue, the work of commissions, the upcoming elections, and the need for accountability and action to create a peaceful and safe society. Extensive discussions centered on the National Dialogue and its status in bringing social cohesion and unity in the country.  Photo: Office of the President of South Africa President Ramaphosa responded to all the issues put forth by Dr Pillay and the SACC leadership. Speaking to the Palestine situation, he recognised that their approach brought unexpected attacks on the South African government, but they chose to follow the legal and formal route of addressing the situation from a justice perspective. President Ramaphosa provided detailed information of how South Africa is making contributions to peacemaking initiatives across the globe and within the continent using their positions in the UN, SADC, BRICS, and other organs.  President Ramaphosa and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi presented detailed information on the migrant issue, stating clearly that the government is doing all it can to ensure the safe and dignified return of the migrants to their respective countries. They were clear that South Africa has always welcomed others to the country but the situation of people living within the country without the necessary documents is what is being addressed. On the issue of corruption, it was stated that the government is addressing this very seriously and the recommendations of previous and current commissions are being implemented, but much more must still be done. The Phala Phala matter is currently with the courts, and confidence was expressed in the work they do. The National Dialogue was constituted by President Ramaphosa at the request of many people and now it is expected to continue its work without government interference. Pillay said: “The meeting with the President of South Africa and his team was engaging, informative, instructive, and transparent. We heard the government and they heard us. We valued and appreciated the frank conversations and the responses we received to the issues we raised. We recognise that issues are complex and often have different understandings. We, thus, pray for wisdom and discernment for government, religious leaders, and the people of South Africa. The WCC will continue to work with the SACC and through them with the South African government and people as we continue the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity in this context and globally.”  Photo: Office of the President of South Africa Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of SACC, said that the President acknowledged the important roles of both WCC and SACC in helping people navigate today’s challenges.  Archbishop Sipuka expressed appreciation for being able to discuss major issues with the President and his team, mentioning that discussions touched on the importance of legal migration while also taking care of people at the borders. Sipuka said, “The President made the point that no country can just be open to everybody and spoke about the responsibility countries must have to reduce people leaving their countries for another. In this regard the President urged leaders of African countries, while respecting the autonomy of each nation, to be mutually accountable to each other in the ways in which they run their countries.” “The meeting with the President and the ministers was insightful, especially with the recent issues with illegal Immigration in South Africa,” said Ms Lulama Ntuta, First Vice President of SACC. “It has been reiterated that we are not a xenophobic nation and have always been loving and welcoming to people from other countries and this message was very strongly emphasized today again by the President. She added. “The human dignity and human rights are evidently being upheld as processes are implemented to try stabilizing the country and bring meaningful solutions and confidence to the African continent. We continue to pray for the leadership of South Africa and its people.” 'It was an encouraging and constructive engagement,” said Rev. Dr Nioma Venter, Second Vice President of SACC. “We came away with the clear impression that both the World Council of Churches and the South African Council of Churches are regarded as valued partners in ongoing dialogue. We also appreciated President Ramaphosa's affirmation that the values enshrined in South Africa's Constitution continue to guide the government's response to the situation of migrants, as well as its engagement with other pressing challenges across the African continent and further. Such dialogue between church and state remains important in pursuing justice, human dignity, and the common good.” Photo gallery The skyline of Johannesburg. Photo: Ivars Kupcis/WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland