 |  | January 9th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Eight people killed by Israeli air strikes, Gaza civil defence agency says BBC "At least eight people, including four children, have been killed by Israeli air strikes in Gaza in the last 24 hours, the territory's civil defence agency has said. Four people, including three children, were killed when a drone struck a tent sheltering displaced people in southern Gaza, the agency's spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP." | | | | | | 2. Israel clears final hurdle to start settlement construction that would cut the West Bank in two PBS "Israel has cleared the final hurdle before starting construction on a contentious settlement project near Jerusalem that would effectively cut the West Bank in two, according to a government tender. The tender, which seeks bids from developers, would clear the way to begin construction of the E1 project." | | | | | | 3. Israeli assault on Palestinian university wounds dozens in West Bank raid Al Jazeera "Dozens of people were wounded after Israel’s army opened fire with live rounds, sound grenades, and tear gas at a prominent university in the occupied West Bank as students sat in classrooms and roamed the campus. Israeli soldiers smashed open the university’s gates as panicked students and staff watched in shock on Tuesday." | | | | | | 4. Saudi Arabia Reasserts Control in Yemen as Separatist Delegation Goes Dark New York Times "Saudi Arabia took forceful steps to reassert its influence over Yemen on Wednesday, as it tries to wrest back control from a group of separatists who, with backing from the United Arab Emirates, have sought to create an independent state in southern Yemen. Saudi Arabia had invited dozens of officials from the separatist group, the Southern Transitional Council, to come for talks about their bid for secession. But soon after arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Wednesday, they went incommunicado, their colleagues said." | | | | | | 5. Syrian army orders Aleppo evacuations amid fighting with Kurdish forces The Guardian "The Syrian government urged people to leave the three contested neighbourhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh and Bani Zeid by early afternoon, opening humanitarian corridors and displacement shelters to facilitate their exit. The Syrian army said it would begin military operations against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) after the deadline, and issued maps showing specific areas that needed to be evacuated." | | | | | | 6. Israel says targets Hezbollah, Hamas in Lebanon strikes France 24 "It was the first such warning issued by the Israeli military this year, as Israel continues to strike targets in Lebanon despite a ceasefire with Hezbollah. An AFP photographer in Kfar Hatta, one of the targeted villages in south Lebanon, saw dozens of families flee the village after the warning was issued, amid drone activity in the area, adding that ambulances and fire trucks were on standby." | | | | | | 7. US will exit 66 international organizations as it further retreats from global cooperation AP News "President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies, and commissions, following his administration’s review of participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House release." | | | | | | | | Still Active: ACTION ALERT "Block the Bombs Act" On May 21st, 2025, House Resolution 3565 was introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives, also known as the "Block the Bombs Act." The resolution calls for a limit on the sale of bombs, ammunition (including white phosphorus), and ammunition manufacturing capability. The act comes as Israel has strengthened its assault on Gaza and the West Bank, with an estimated death toll since October 7th, 2023 standing at 54,000 Palestinian men, women, and children. Congress needs to pressure the Trump Administration to protect Palestinian civilians through the passage of HRes. 3565. Your voice can push your representative to support this vital resolution and limit offensive weapon capabilities of Israel, protecting Gazan civilians from relentless bombs. Contact your representative and urge them to support the initiative. | | | | | | | | Peacebuilding Lessons from the Middle East February 16, 23, March 2, 9, 2026 | Noon–2 PM
Instructor: The Rev’d Mae Elise Cannon, PhD, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
Offered at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale In a time of deep global division and conflict, this course invites participants to learn from the lived witness of Christians in the Middle East who embody faith, resilience, and hope amid adversity. Taught by the Rev’d Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), the course focuses on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, exploring how the church in the Holy Land seeks justice, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal in the face of ongoing struggle. Through an interdisciplinary blend of theology, history, and practical ministry, participants will engage in spiritual formation, examine models of conflict transformation, and gain tools for peacebuilding and advocacy. Together, we will explore what it means to “love one’s enemy” and move from apathy to action in the pursuit of justice and peace in the Middle East and in our own communities. | | | | | | Call to Prayer for Shadi Khoury On Sept, 8th 2025, after two years and eleven months of procrastination in the corridors of the occupation's courts, after an arrest accompanied by torture, Shadi's steadfastness during interrogation, a full year of house arrest, and thirty-seven consecutive court sessions, the judge issued his decision convicting Shadi. Sentencing has been pushed to January 20th, 2026. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. | | | | | | From CMEP's Own: The Epiphany story reminds us: Keep our eyes on Palestine in 2026 "Over the last couple of months, I have heard many Americans, including well-intentioned friends, say about Gaza, “I’m glad it’s over” or “Good thing the violence has stopped.” These would be welcome sentiments if they reflected reality. The horrific attack on Jews celebrating Hanukkah in Sydney, Australia, was rightly condemned, widely and immediately, but the everyday grinding violence that Palestinians face has become almost invisible."
This article was written by Julie Schumacher Cohen, who sits on the Catholic Advisory Council for CMEP. | | | | | | Press Release: Churches for Middle East Peace joins 53 International NGOs in warning that Israel’s recent registration measures will impede critical humanitarian action | Churches for Middle East Peace join international humanitarian organizations in warning that Israel’s recent registration measures threaten to shut down life-saving aid operations across Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. If allowed to proceed, these measures would force dozens of INGOs to cease operations, cutting off food, healthcare, shelter, and nutrition assistance to millions of civilians facing extreme need. Humanitarian access is not political or optional; it is a legal obligation under international humanitarian law that must be protected. | | | | | | | | | | Thursday Weekly News Briefing
Please join us on Zoom for a weekly briefing on current news regarding the Hamas and Israel War. Hear from CMEP Staff and other experts and ask questions at the end. Every Thursday from 10:30-11:15 am Eastern. | | | | | | | | Support CMEP’s Work for Peace
If you value the programs and advocacy efforts highlighted in the bulletin, we invite you to partner with us. Your generosity makes it possible for CMEP to continue hosting events, leading education initiatives, and amplifying voices for justice and peace in the Middle East. If you would like to support CMEP in expanding this important work, please consider making a donation today. Thank you for standing with us. | | | | | | | | | | | | Receive the Name of a Palestinian Child Alive Today and Lift them up
in Prayer and Advocacy "Let Children Live" More than two million children in Gaza and the West Bank live under brutal oppression, their lives too often reduced to statistics. Yet each child is beloved by God. The Let Children Live campaign invites you to receive the name of a Palestinian child alive today and lift them up in prayer and advocacy. Together, we can remind the world of their dignity, hope, and right to a future. Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and our global partners in this urgent call to stand with children who deserve to live and thrive. | | | | | | Join CMEP from January 18–25, 2026 for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed January 18–25, 2026. This year’s theme, drawn from Ephesians 4:4, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” , invites Christians around the world to reflect on unity as a sacred calling of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the week, CMEP will host prayer, reflection, and conversation centered on the unity of the global Christian community, with a particular focus on the witness and life of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Armenian clergy and speakers will join CMEP to pray together and engage a range of topics that affirm the shared faith, resilience, and interconnectedness of Christians worldwide. Additional details and speakers will be announced soon. Event 1: Tuesday, January 20th, 12 PM EST with Save the ArQ founder Hagop Djernazian - learn about the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem! | | | | | | Save the Date May 5-7: Joint Christian Advocacy Summit 2026 Join CMEP and a broad coalition of co-sponsors May 5-7, 2026 as we converge in Washington, DC for a Joint Christian Advocacy Summit for the Middle East. Centered on the theme “Do Right; Seek Justice (Is. 1:17): Christians Uniting Against Oppression in Palestine/Israel,” this gathering will equip and mobilize Christian advocates from across the country in support of U.S. policies that uphold dignity, human rights, and lasting security for all who call the region home. Attendees will learn from experts, gain advocacy skills, and have the opportunity to meet with their congressional offices to call for a just peace in the Holy Land. | | | | | | Spring 2026 Solidarity Pilgrimage + Christ at the Checkpoint May 22 - May 31 Join Churches for Middle East Peace as we journey to Israel/Palestine in May 2026 for a solidarity pilgrimage. This trip will highlight the spiritual significance of the land, the role of local Christians in shaping the region’s past and present, and opportunities to meet with religious, academic, and non-profit leaders working toward peace and justice in the land. Alongside visits to sacred sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, the itinerary includes participation in the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, offering an opportunity to hear from Palestinian Christian leaders and global advocates committed to justice, reconciliation, and nonviolence. | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
