Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem says extremism gaining ground in Israeli society amid Gaza war

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has warned that extremism is increasingly gaining traction within parts of Israeli society amid the Gaza conflict, saying a growing “culture of contempt” toward Arabs and non-Jews is becoming amplified by media narratives, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Pizzaballa said the atmosphere created after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza contributed to the rise of extremist rhetoric. “Unfortunately extremism is gaining traction in this context,” the cardinal said. “We are seeing its consequences in certain sectors of Israeli civil society. Not everyone, of course, I would say it is not the majority.” “But the culture of contempt for everything […]