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January 5th Update Bulletin As the new year begins, we turn our eyes once more to the events unfolding in Palestine and Israel. Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP. | |
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 | Image: The Holy Family church in Gaza was struck last weekend. (Mahmud Hams/AFP via Getty Images) | | | Congressional staff tried to protect Gazan churches by sending locations to Israel Politico "A church and a convent that were struck in Gaza last week were listed among Christian facilities congressional staffers had flagged to Israeli authorities for protection — according to a series of emails from October." | | | | | |
 | Image: A Palestinian woman displaced by the Israeli bombardment sits in a makeshift tent in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Hatem Ali) | | | Apparent Israeli strike kills senior Hamas figure in Beirut and raises fears conflict could expand ABC News "An apparent Israeli strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut killed Hamas' No. 2 political leader Tuesday (Jan 2), marking a potentially significant escalation of Israel's war against the militant group and heightening the risk of a wider Middle East conflict.” | | | | | |
 | Image: Still image of Habash from his interview with MSNBC. | | | Biden appointee resigns over president’s handling of Gaza war Washington Post "A political appointee at the Department of Education announced his resignation Wednesday (Jan 3) over the president’s handling of the Israel-Gaza war, marking the second public departure over an issue that has deeply divided the Biden administration." | | | | | |
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 | Better Citizens, Better World: Courageous Small Steps To Faithful Civic Discipleship while following Jesus. Politics often divide more than they unite. In our increasingly polarized nation, the overlap between the Christian faith and civic engagement seems to get thinner and thinner. Stepping in any direction seems incapacitating, perhaps threatening and mostly overwhelming. Join us in D.C. February 2-3 for these important conversations. | | | | |  | Join Us in Washington, DC as we mark Four Decades of Pursuing Peace at our annual Advocacy Summit from April 9-11, 2024. Spend time looking back at CMEP's 40 year history while hearing how CMEP will continue its work to advocate for peace and justice for all in the Middle East. You will also have a chance to advocate directly with your Congressional offices. | | | | |  | | | Join Christian leaders in prayer for a ceasefire and demilitarization in Israel/Palestine at a vigil in Lafayette Square on January 13th from 4-5:30p ET. The event will be live streamed on CMEP's Youtube Page. | | | | | |
 | CMEP’s Executive Director has continued to create daily videos to break down the newest information related to the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Israel and the larger Middle East. Tune in daily to CMEP’s YouTube channel and watch previous videos to better understand the current crisis in Gaza. | | | | |  | If you missed the Live Service from Bethlehem on December 23rd, “Christ in the Rubble”, you can watch the entire service on CMEP’s YouTube today to worship with our brothers and sisters in Palestine. | | | | |  | Prepare your schedule so you can join CMEP for the Week of Christian Unity starting January 22nd. Join as Christian leaders from across the Middle East and US lead 30 minutes of prayer daily for a week. Registration coming soon! | | | | | |
| | Articles & Interviews you may have missed: | | | |
 | Listen as Reverend Dr. Mae Elise Cannon joins Shane for an important conversation about peacebuilding and Churches for Middle East Peace in the Red Letter Christians Podcast! | | |  | Read The Christians of Gaza, Written by CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon and CMEP Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow Dr. Benjamin Norquist for The Christian Citizen on December 12, 2023. | | | |
 | Listen to “The Holy Land” with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon for the Reconciliation Roundtable Podcast on December 30, 2023; CMEP's Executive Director joined Bishop Mark Beckwith of Newark, NJ of The Episcopal Church on his podcast "Reconciliation Roundtable" which focuses on the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. | | | |
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| | | | A Huge Thank You to all who gave to CMEP in 2023. Your generosity has allowed us to keep going. If you would like to donate to the pursuit of holistic peace through advocacy, education, and elevation of voices from the Middle East, you can donate today. | | | | | |
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Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 info@cmep.org | | | |
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