RELIGION HEADLINES THR 8-21-25

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(SRN NEWS)-(  )  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging French President Emanuel Macron not to recognize a Palestinian state next month, pointing out that anti-Semitism has surged in France since Macron’s announcement that he will do so.  Netanyahu has written a letter to Macron stating that “Your call for a Palestinian state pours fuel on the fire.”  Tensions between Israel and traditional allies have escalated following Macron’s pledge last month — a move followed by Britain, Canada and Australia.  France has the largest Jewish population in Europe and the third largest in the world following Israel and the U.S.

(  )  Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is stepping down to join the Trump administration as FBI co-deputy director.  Bailey pursued numerous legal challenges against Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration on policies ranging from immigration to transgenderism.  He also advanced conservative causes in his home state, threatening legal action against gyms over transgender bathroom policies, demanding that public schools ban drag shows and defending the state’s pro-life regulations.  Republican Governor Mike Kehoe has appointed former U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway as the next Missouri attorney general.

(  )  The prime minister of Israel is taking his counterpart in Australia to task for vowing to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state.  Writing on social media, Benjamin Netanyahu says “History will remember Anthony Albanese for what he is: A weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia’s Jews.”  The decision by Albanese to recognize a Palestinian state comes at a time when anti-Semitism is surging in Australia.  The country’s conservative opposition party has pledged to reverse Australia’s recognition of any Palestinian state if it wins the next election, which is due in 2028.

(  )  A Yosemite National Park ranger has been fired after hanging a pride flag from El Capitan.  Shannon Joslin, a ranger who describes herself as non-binary, hung a 66-foot wide transgender pride flag on the famous climbing wall that looms over the California park’s main thoroughfare on May 20th.  A termination letter she received stated that Joslin “failed to demonstrate acceptable conduct”.  A group of seven climbers including two other park rangers and several civilians helped Joslin hang the flag. The other rangers are on administrative leave pending an investigation.  The civilians could be prosecuted.