letterswithoutborders

  In Bucks County, Pennsylvania, local law enforcement participated in a controversial counter-terrorism training program based on Israeli military tactics. The program, “Combat Anti-Terror Training the Israeli Way,” is conducting several sessions throughout May in different areas of the state by Total Security International, LLC (TSI), a private company staffed by veterans of Israel’s “elite” security forces. The initiative , funded by $300,000 in state appropriations secured by Senator Frank A. Farry and State Representatives Craig Staats, K.C. Tomlinson, Kristin Marcell, Shelby Labs and Joe Hogan, aims to train 120 officers in proactive engagement and tactical response strategies modeled on Israeli security practices. The training included 60 law enforcement officials who detail for the county’s tactical teams (SWAT) and 60 patrol officers and school resource officers. Training The three day program is split into classroom instruction on Israeli counter-terrorism p...

  In his first general audience as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV delivered an appeal for humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip and urged an end to the intentional suffering inflicted by Israel. Addressing an estimated 40,000 Catholics gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, the newly elected American pope denounced the violence and called the humanitarian crisis in Gaza “increasingly worrying and painful.” “I renew my heartfelt appeal to allow the entrance of dignified humanitarian aid to Gaza and to put an end to the hostilities whose heartbreaking price is being paid by children, the elderly and sick people,” he said. The weekly address is a tradition that goes back decades that allows ordinary people a direct encounter with the Holy Father. The pope’s plea comes amid intensifying concern from aid agencies and international human rights organizations. The United Nations backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has warned of imminent famine in Gaza where access to...

  Lebanon is facing a massive challenge in the rebuilding of its war-ravaged landscape. The country remains in the middle of a deep financial crisis that worsened in 2019, the result of decades of corruption, mismanagement and poor leadership. In 2020, Lebanon defaulted on its debt and since then, its currency has lost over 90% of its value. Many people can no longer afford basic goods, and public services are collapsing. After 14 months of war with Israel, an estimated 4,000 people are dead and it has damaged or destroyed approximately 10% of homes nationwide. The already failing public services have come under further strain, particularly in southern Lebanon, the eastern region, and Beirut’s southern suburbs—areas heavily targeted during Israeli bombardments and known for their strong Hezbollah support. A new report from the World Bank—the Lebanon Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment ( RDNA) 2025 estimates that the country needs around $11 billion to rebuild. Of this, $1 billion is...