by Doreen Abi Raad

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Amid the turmoil in the Middle East and persecution of Christians in surrounding countries, the Christmas spirit is evident in Lebanon: sparkling lights, decorated trees and even mangers in public places.

“Wherever you go you can find Christmas decorations,” even in the cities and the places where the residents are Muslim, Maronite Father Joseph Soueid told Catholic News Service. “I feel that here in Lebanon, we have this grace, that really, Jesus is the reason for the season,” said the priest, pastor of St. Takla Parish, which serves 6,850 Maronite Catholic families.

With seating for just 280 people, the church overflows with the faithful for each of its eight Masses on Sundays and has generated 24 vocations in the past eight years. Its outdoor manger near the entrance to the church is just a few steps away from a busy street intersection Soueid noted that because most of the municipalities in Lebanon are a mix of Christian and Muslim, the influence of Christianity gives the Lebanese an opportunity to “make this season a season of joy.”

Muslims also have attended and continue to attend Christian schools in Lebanon. So it follows that “when they grew up, they found themselves familiar with our traditions and with the way we celebrate our great celebrations, like Christmas, like Easter,” Soueid said.

Samantha Power US Ambassador to the UN

By Jeremy Berke

The UN Security Council on Friday passed a resolution demanding that Israel halt building settlements on occupied Palestinian territory, a move that was permitted by the US's abstention.

The resolution, put forward by by New Zealand, Malaysia, Venezuela, and Senegal, passed with 14 members of the council voting in favor. The US abstained, refusing to use its power as a sitting member of the Security Council to veto. In doing so, the Obama administration defied pressure from US President-elect Donald Trump, along with bipartisan members of Congress. The resolution says that Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories have "no legal validity" and constitute a "flagrant violation under international law." The settlements are a "major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State (sic) solution," and a, "just, lasting and comprehensive peace," the resolution says. 

Members of the council clapped and cheered as the vote passed. It was the first time in 36 years the UN adopted a resolution on Israeli settlements. Israel strongly condemned what it called a "shameful anti-Israel" resolution and said it would not abide by its terms. In a statement, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office also accused the US of being complicit in the UN effort.

"The Obama administration not only failed to protect Israel against this gang-up at the UN, it colluded with it behind the scenes," the statement read. It said it looked forward to "working with President-elect Trump and with all our friends in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike."

As 2016 comes to a close, the restaurant industry is prepping for a new year.  To succeed in 2017, chains will need to stay on the cutting edge as trends like automation and menu transparency continue to gain traction. Restaurants will also have to take on greater competition from smaller chains and independent restaurants.

We spoke with restaurant industry experts Catherine De Orio, an executive director of the culinary nonprofit Kendall College Trust, and Shilen Patel, co-founder of the consultancy Independents United, to see what restaurants chains they are looking out for in 2017. 

Here are seven chains poised for a breakthrough in the new year, according to De Orio and Patel: 

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by Josh Feldman There has been much discussion about a rise in hate crimes after Donald Trump‘s election victory. But some of …