News and Views 27th March 2026

Israel

• Increase in religious observance among Israelis. Following the Hamas attacks of October 2023, and the more recent attacks by Israel and America’s on Iran, it is claimed that many Israelis have become more open to conversations about faith. “There is a seeking, because when people lose the sense of control in their lives”, a worker for 'Jews for Jesus' said, “and they see that it’s not in their hands and death is even imminent at times, they look for God, and they look for answers.” Rising antisemitism and regional instability have left many Jewish Israelis anxious and “wondering where their help comes from.” A Nov 2025 poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute showed that 27% of Jewish Israelis have increased their religious observance since the war against Hamas began, with roughly one-third reporting they are praying more frequently, and close to 20% reading Jewish Scriptures more often. 
• Steady rise in Israelis professing faith in Christ. Many Israelis are even exploring Christianity. In 2025, the number of people interested in studying the Bible increased by 10% compared to the previous year. There has been a corresponding steady rise in Israelis professing faith in Christ, including some from ultra-Orthodox backgrounds. In the year following the Oct 7 attacks, 25 Israelis accepted Christ through Jews for Jesus (slightly lower than in previous years). But in the war’s second year, professions of faith jumped to 147. Pastors across the country report similar patterns and a steady stream of baptisms—three there, six here, five there.
• Over 500 believers (in Yeshua) serving in IDF. The pastor of a Messianic congregation in Kanot, in central Israel, said that 15 people, most in their 20s, have come to faith in Christ at his church of approximately 160 people since 2023. All are in discipleship programs and regularly attend church. The pastor acknowledged that “for years, Israelis placed their trust in the ‘chariots and horses’ mentioned in Psalm 20:7 – in our Iron Dome, in our military, in our Mossad, and everything else … Within two to three hours [of the Hamas massacre], everything we put our hope in was gone.” He estimates at least 550 believers (in Yeshua) are currently serving in the IDF, including his 21-year-old son who is stationed in Gaza.

Quiet Revival

• ‘Quiet Revival’ report was flawed, YouGov admits. The Bible Society has deleted its famed report claiming a ‘Quiet Revival’ across the UK following news that the polling company behind the research, YouGov, has said their survey sample was “faulty, and can no longer be regarded as a reliable source of information about the spiritual landscape in Britain”. The report caused a great stir across the UK  Church, lead to in-depth press coverage, and was even mentioned in Parliament. Many questioned the findings from the outset, pointing out that the results seemed out of step with other data, such as the long-running British Social Attitudes Survey.
• ‘The Quiet Revival’ one year on. YouGov is taking full responsibility for the errors, and no blame is attached to the Bible Society, who over a 15-month period, say they “repeatedly sought and received assurances from YouGov, regarding both the robustness of the methodology and the reliability of the report’s conclusions.” YouGov says it will run a new opinion poll in due course. Meanwhile, the Bible Society has published a new report, “The Quiet Revival” One Year On: What’s the story?, in which it confirms that “young people are a more spiritual generation, there is a Bible boom, and there is a rise in Christian conversion” across the UK.

Abortion

• Kickback against Lords’ approval of abortion up to birth. More than 70 MPs and peers have written to the Government to protest against the decriminalisation of abortion up to the point of birth, which would scrap criminal penalties for women who undergo self-induced abortions. Catherine Robinson of Right to Life UK, called the bill: “one of the most extreme pieces of legislation ever to pass the House of Commons and the House of Lords.” Many have been appalled at how Parliament quietly advanced such a radical change to decriminalise late abortions with almost no discussion or public awareness. Christian Concern notes that, “Faced with this profound shift in the law, we will continue to pursue every available legal avenue to defend both women’s safety and the protection of the unborn.” Read also here and here.

Freedom of Speech

• Finland deals serious blow to freedom of speech. Finnish MP Päivi Räsänen was criminally convicted this morning (Thurs) of ‘hate speech’ for publishing a pamphlet more than 20 years ago (when 'hate law' didn't exist), in which she expressed a traditional Christian view of marriage and sexuality. She was, however, unanimously acquitted of a 2019 Bible verse tweet in which she criticised her church's decision to sponsor a Pride event. She now faces fines of several thousand euros and the court has ordered that the offending statements be “removed from public access and destroyed". Shocked by the verdict, Ms Räsänen is considering taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights. 

Middle East War

• Concerns grow for Christians in Iranian prisons. Families and friends of many Christians held in Iranian prisons have requested prayer as concerns for their well-being grow and as communication has all but ceased amid ongoing strikes against Iran. There are at least 48 Christians behind bars in the Islamic Republic because of their faith. Ongoing U.S. and Israeli air strikes near prisons, as well as the targeting of security facilities where detainees are held, are said to be placing prisoners, including children, at risk. Amnesty International said prison authorities were also subjecting detainees to ‘enforced disappearance’ and denying them access to adequate food and water.
• Many Christians among the 1 million+ displaced in Lebanon. With Hezbollah and Israel currently engaged in a full-scale conflict – their second in less than two years – as part of the wider war between the US, Israel and Iran, the fighting has displaced over a million Lebanese.  Many Christians in the south of the country have chosen to flee to safer parts of the country, where hundreds of public schools and private institutions have been turned into makeshift displacement shelters. For many, it is the fourth or fifth time they have been displaced, with the situation being described as ‘catastrophic’.
• Putting faith before fear. But many Christians in the south are choosing to stay in their homes, despite intense ground fighting, airstrikes, and evacuation orders – owing to financial constraints, attachment to their land, and fear of what could happen to their homes if they leave – numerous residents having claimed that soldiers have been known to enter homes, damage possessions and cover walls in graffiti. Amidst the sound of explosions, Catholics and Orthodox Christians still choose to gather at a local church, where they pray and read from the Psalms.

Islam UK

• Iran war has unified Britain’s Muslims. Sunni-Shia tensions are traditionally strong across much of the Islamic world, but a new report shows that they are increasingly being set aside in the West, and not least the UK, owing to the war in Iran and because of an overarching hatred of Israel and hostility to the West. Disturbingly, British Muslims have relatively high levels of support for Iran, and, while overwhelmingly Sunni, they feel warmer towards a theocratic Shia dictatorship in Iran than they do towards majority-Sunni nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. (This is in stark contrast to the situation in the Gulf itself, where the Saudis have been pushing Trump towards destroying the Iranian regime.) Equally disturbing, British Muslims also hold warmer views of both China and Russia (despite the 2 countries having a history of persecuting their own Muslim citizens).
• ‘Islamic prayers’ at Church of England primary school. A Church of England school in Lincolnshire, funded by the state, is at the centre of a row over allegations 7-year-old pupils were “coerced, manipulated and cajoled” to kneel and bow their heads in the style of an Islamic prayer, despite none of the children in the classroom being of the Islamic faith. One father was said he was shocked when putting his daughter to bed and she said: “We did prayers to Allah yesterday.” The Diocese of Lincoln, speaking on behalf of the school, admitted that “pupils were invited to demonstrate some of the movements associated with Muslim prayer” without prior agreement from parents.

The story comes in the aftermath of a plethora of reports of UK acquiescence to Islam in recent weeks, particularly during the Islamic observance of Ramadan:

• Last month, another Church of England primary school – in Co Durham – invited a Muslim speaker who compared the war in Gaza to the Holocaust, and taught pupils how to pray to Allah.
• A Canadian school sparked uproar after 'banning food at lunchtime' to support Muslim pupils observing Ramadan.
• The online encyclopaedia Wikipedia had the message "Wiki loves Ramadan" plastered on top of its Christianity page.
• Numerous Premier League football matches were paused just after sunset for Ramadan to allow Muslim players to break their fast during football matches.
• A Labour council issued guidance to teachers urging them to avoid giving after-school detentions to Muslim students during Ramadan.
• Other recent accommodations to Islam include rescheduling exams to avoid Ramadan, Ramadan lights in London, provision of Muslim prayer rooms, halal food in many workplaces, and much more.

Antisemitism

• Horrific antisemitic attack in Golders Green. Early this week, four ambulances were burned next to a synagogue on the premises of Hatzola, a Jewish charity in Golders Green that operates a fleet of medical response vehicles in north London. Experts and security officials say the incident has all the hallmarks of Iranian intelligence (read more here and here). Brendan O’Neill has called it “an act of apocalyptic Jew hatred, a fiery pogrom designed to terrify London’s Jews – the latest vile strike in a war on the rights of Jews.” Two men – British nationals – have been arrested in connection with the attacks – subsequently released on bail.
• The community spirit behind Hatzola. As four NHS ambulances were quickly loaned by the government to replace those destroyed by arson, a fundraiser set up to secure new, safer premises for Hatzola – which means ‘rescue’ in Hebrew” – had already raised £1.4m within two days. Hatzola services also operate in other parts of London, as well as in Manchester, Canvey Island (Essex), Hertfordshire and Gateshead – the main centres of UK Orthodox Jewish life. “It’s not just a Jewish service”, one team member explained. “If a call comes from within the area, they will come to your aid, whoever you are. There’s no cost to anyone and even on the sabbath, they’ll go to any case.” Following the arson attack, King Charles has been made patron of The Community Security Trust, which protects Jewish communities in the UK. Meanwhile, Sadiq Khan has been criticised for failing to go to the scene of the firebombing.
• Police take no action over ‘baby-eating Jews’ depictions. An art exhibition in Margate, Kent, featuring anti-Semitic tropes was promoted by a Labour’s Thanet District Council (which has since been forced to apologise). One drawing depicts a Jewish businessman eating babies alive, while others depict Jews as devils with horns or standing on skulls with messages like “we love death.” There are also several that deny that Hamas committed rape or sexual violence on October 7, 2023. A Jewish visitor, deeply shocked by the drawings, spoke to the artist, Matthew Collings, who allegedly shouted abuse at her. A Telegraph journalist said it was “the most disgusting display of anti-Semitic imagery I have seen in real life.” Yet Kent Police say they are satisfied that “no criminal offences were identified” at the exhibition. Read more here and here.
• Antisemitism in Belgium. Soldiers have been deployed on the streets of leading Belgian cities to bolster security for the Jewish community following recent antisemitic attacks in Antwerp and in Liege. Antisemitism in Belgium is a severe issue, with reports indicating 97% of local Jews have encountered antisemitic incidents, leading many to hide their identity. 
• Antisemitism in Netherlands. Antisemitism in neighbouring the Netherlands has also seen a significant sharp increase in recent months, characterised by targeted violence against individuals and widespread online hatred. In Amsterdam, a Jewish school, and in Rotterdam, a synagogue, were recently attacked within just two days.
• Antisemitism in Germany. Antisemitic incidents at Germany’s Holocaust memorial sites remain alarmingly high and continue to climb, according to a new report, amid a rising tide of hostility and targeted violence against Jews across the country.

• Jewish students across the UK say they are shunned by anti-Semitic housemates, with a fifth of students saying they would be reluctant to, or would never, share a flat with Jewish people. Antisemitic abuse in British universities has reached record levels, to the extent that some claim it has been 'normalised'.
• The Guardian was denounced for calling the opening of a Jewish-founded Gail's bakery near an independent Palestinian café in London an 'act of heavy-handed high-street aggression' against Palestinians. The new Gail's has already had all of its windows smashed in, and slogans reading ‘reject corporate Zionism’ put up. Read also this incisive article.
• Hate crimes against Muslims in the UK are nearly twice as likely to result in prosecution as those targeting Jews, newly released figures show.
• Recently-resigned US counterterrorism director Joe Kent has insinuated that Israel might have killed Charlie Kirk to stoke the Iran war.
• Young Palestinians are being trained to fill Wikipedia with anti-Israel propaganda, it has been claimed.
• Maureen Lipman has claimed that Keir Starmer won’t back British Jews for fear of losing Muslim voters.

Church Matters

• 2025 Westminster Declaration. Last year a declaration of faith was published by a group of Christian leaders concerned by the deterioration of civil liberties, morality, and the value of human life in the UK in recent years. The 2025 Westminster Declaration is intended as an update to the 2010 Westminster Declaration in light of the huge changes in the UK since then. The unique declaration is divided into seven key areas of concern: freedom of belief and of conscience; the value of human life; marriage, family and children; parents and school education; biological sex and gender; the role of the university; AI and moral reflection.
• Declaration worthy of more support. The 2025 declaration was produced as a result of input from a range of different Christian traditions, and members of the steering group include Mgr Nazir-Ali, Major General Tim Cross, journalist and author Robin Aitken, CEO of Voice for Justice UK the Rev Lynda Rose, and researcher and campaigner Dr Tony Rucinski. So far the declaration has received little publicity and has been signed by only 3,758 people – a long way short of the 100,000 people required to trigger a debate in Parliament on the issues it raises.  You can read the declaration and sign here.

The BBC

• BBC rejects over 99.9% of complaints against it. As former Google UK boss Matt Brittin is named BBC’s next Director General (read more here and here), the BBC has been accused of acting as “judge and jury” after rejecting almost all the complaints made against it. The broadcaster has upheld just 200 out of almost 2.3 million complaints made since 2017, according to an analysis by the campaign group News-watch. Only three of the almost 2.3 million complaints breached the Broadcasting Code, equivalent to just 0.00013 per cent. Yet despite this ‘inhouse’ system, the BBC continues to regard the low level of successful complaints as evidence of editorial robustness.