[TODAY'S PRAYER] RAMADAN IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AMID E-PAL CONFLICT AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

Ramadan, the Islamic fasting month, began on March 22, amid heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians amid the hardline stance of the Israeli right-wing coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Major cities in the Islamic Middle East, including Jerusalem, home to the Al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's three holiest sites, geared for the Holy Month, when the angel Gabriel taught the Prophet Muhammad the Koran with colorful lights and decorations. Muslims celebrate the holy month in Ramadan by fasting, praying, retreating and reflecting, and sharing food with family and neighbors when the sun goes down.

But Ramadan in Jerusalem, a common holy city for Islam, Judaism and Christianity, began this year with tension. That's because tensions between Israelis and Palestinians have never been higher in the months since the inauguration of Israel's ultra-hard-right government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu last December.

Provocations at the Holy Land in Jerusalem by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gbir moved to expand Jewish settlements led by far-right forces which heightened anti-Israel sentiment among the Palestinian population. Add to that the Israeli military's search of the West Bank, accompanied by armed conflict since last year, leading to bloody retaliatory drama with tails on tails. This year alone, 88 Palestinian militants and civilians have been killed, and 16 in Israel.

Finance Minister Bezael Smotrich, one of Israel's leading far-right politicians, provoked the Palestinian population with the mantra that "there is no such thing as a Palestinian nation" ahead of Ramadan.

In particular, this year's Ramadan coincides with the Jewish holiday of Passover (April 4-5), which celebrates the Exodus, raising concerns that clashes in Jerusalem's holy sites, which have been repeated every year during Ramadan, could intensify. Israelis and Palestinians agreed to meet in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Feb. 2, following Jordan, the U.S. and Egypt's mediation in Aqaba, Jordan, to try to avoid conflicts and clashes in the Holy Land during Ramadan, but it remains to be seen whether that agreement will be honored.

In the midst of this, some Arab countries faced Ramadan in the midst of a severe economic crisis. Egypt is experiencing steep prices and a foreign exchange crisis as a result of the more than year-long war in Ukraine, and in Lebanon, which is experiencing its worst economic crisis in four years, protesters clashed with police as they attempted to storm government buildings ahead of Ramadan.

Residents of Türkiye and Syria, where tens of thousands of people were killed by a strong earthquake early last month, are still facing Ramadan with sighs and grief in the aftermath of the quake. The good news from the Middle East in the midst of Ramadan is that Saudi Arabia and Iran, which have agreed to normalize diplomatic relations, have agreed to hold foreign ministers' talks soon to discuss the opening of an embassy.

(Afterword)

Source: Yonhap News

Jesus said unto them, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).

God, this year, sad news is coming from all directions as the month of Ramadan begins, when many Muslims around the world are fasting and praying in vain, deceived by lies.

This Ramadan, in particular, begins in the midst of great tension and the suffering of many Muslims, and perhaps it will be a time of eagerness for them. But, Lord, we declare that Jesus Christ alone is the way, the truth, the life, and the only way to God, as you have said!

May the Lord now wipe away the tears of Muslims who have been shrouded in truth all their lives before the whisperings of the lie that they themselves must submit to Allah as Muslims, and open their eyes to the true truth!

Lord, have mercy on the descendants of Ishmael, including Israel, the Palestinian people, Egyptians and the Lebanese, who are in the midst of a severe economic crisis! Lord have mercy on your descendants of Türkiye and Syria, where tens of thousands of people died in the earthquake!

May the work of returning to Jesus, who has been the only way, the truth, and the life of our lives, be reversed during this Ramadan through the prayers of the global church praying for them! As the darkest hour passes before the morning comes, may the prayers and solidarity of the powerful and living worldwide Church rise powerfully during this Ramadan to break the false solidarity of Islam that is already divided and shaken!