 |  | February 20th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. ‘Trump gets pledges for Gaza reconstruction and troop commitments at inaugural Board of Peace talks AP News "President Donald Trump announced Thursday at the inaugural Board of Peace meeting that nine members have agreed to pledge $7 billion toward a Gaza relief package and five countries have agreed to deploy troops as part of an international stabilization force for the war-battered Palestinian territory. Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania made pledges to send troops for a Gaza stabilization force, while Egypt and Jordan committed to train police." |
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| 2. UN says Israel is stoking 'ethnic cleansing' fears in Gaza, West Bank Al Jazeera "A new United Nations Human Rights Office report says Israel’s military campaign and blockade of Gaza have created living conditions “increasingly incompatible with Palestinians’ continued existence as a group in Gaza” as it presses its genocidal war on the enclave.The report released on Thursday states that “intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighbourhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza”. |
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| 3. Israeli settlers kill 19-year-old Palestinian American, officials and witnesses say NPR "Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank shot and killed a Palestinian American man during an attack on a village, the Palestinian Health Ministry and a witness said Thursday. Raed Abu Ali, a resident of Mukhmas, said a group of settlers came to the village Wednesday afternoon where they attacked a farmer, prompting clashes after residents intervened. Israeli forces later arrived, and during the violence armed settlers killed 19-year-old Nasrallah Abu Siyam and injured several others." |
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| 4. Iran and U.S. lean into gunboat diplomacy as nuclear talks hang in the balance NPR News "Iran and the United States leaned into gunboat diplomacy Thursday as nuclear talks between the nations hung in the balance, with Tehran holding drills with Russia and the Americans bringing another aircraft carrier closer to the Mideast. The Iranian drill and the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the mouth of the Mediterranean Sea underscore the tensions between the nations." |
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| 5. Hezbollah rejects disarmament plan and government four-month timeline Reuters "Armed group Hezbollah rejected on Tuesday the Lebanese government's decision to grant the army at least four months to advance the second phase of a nationwide disarmament plan, saying it would not accept what it sees as a move serving Israel." |
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| 6. US cuts forces in Syria as its new government fights terror threat PBS News "A senior Trump administration official told PBS News that the U.S. will reduce the number of troops who have been fighting ISIS in Syria. The statement comes after a major shift in U.S. policy in the country. Meanwhile, Iran appears to be bracing for a U.S. strike." |
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| | May 5-7: Joint Christian Advocacy Summit 2026
Location Announced: Shiloh Baptist Church: 1500 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 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. |
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| Call to Prayer and Advocacy for Shadi Khoury On February 15, 2026, Shadi Khoury was sentenced to more than two years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines on completely unsubstantiated charges. This comes more than three years after the sixteen-year-old was beaten and arrested in his own home and subjected to a year of house arrest, dozens of court sessions, and months of delay by the court. As his family explores the possibility of an appeal, we ask that you familiarize yourself with his story and pray and advocate on his behalf. You can reach out to your congressional representatives and respectfully ask them to urge Israel to accept an appeal and show leniency in his case. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. |
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| Prayers4Peace: Shadi's Story This P4P, written by Shadi's mother, Rania Elias, outlines the tragic story of Shadi Khouri, who has been embroiled in unlawful detention, abuse, and sentencing in the Israeli court system. On February 15th, 2026, Shadi was sentenced to over 2 years of prison for crimes he did not commit. We ask that you familiarize yourself with his story and pray and advocate on his behalf. His testimony is just one example of the thousands of childhoods that the occupation has robbed. |
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| 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. This is Action Alert is still on going and currently has gathered support from 61 Co-Sponsors! |
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| 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. |
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| | 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. |
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| CMEP Presents a Lenten of Lament and Hope dedicated to Palestinian Children Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to offer this 2026 Lenten Devotional series as a sacred companion for the journey from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week. Available as a downloadable PDF for a suggested donation, this collection is designed for individual reflection or use within church communities. This Lent, we are invited to slow down, to listen, and to open our hearts. Each devotion is centered on a piece of artwork created by Palestinian children living in the Holy Land. These images speak with honesty, longing, and hope. The works of art are paired with prayerful reflections written by CMEP, guiding us to contemplate suffering and resilience, lament and love, repentance and renewal. As we walk the way of the cross, these devotions call us into deeper solidarity, inviting us to see the Holy Land through the eyes of its children and to encounter Christ anew in places of pain and perseverance. May this Lenten journey draw us closer to God, to one another, and to the work of justice, peace, and compassion in the world. |
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| February 21, 2026: Spiritual Formation as a Justice and Practice Join us at 11 am for a conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace and ordained pastor in the Reformed Church of America, hosted by The Institute for Justice Formation. This talk will focus on the connection of spiritual formation in the context of Middle East justice and moving from the abstract, individualized piety to active justice work. This event will take place virtually from 11 am-1 pm on February 21, 2026. |
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| March 1: Rev Dr Wes Avram Guest Sermon + Workshop at First Congregational of Camden Join Rev. Dr. Wesley Avram, CMEP’s Academic Engagement Director, at First Congregational Church of Camden on March 1st for a guest sermon and afternoon presentation ‘After Gaza’: What Role the Churches in Pursuit of Peace? where Dr. Avram will introduce the organization’s work with particular focus on the response of churches and Christian leaders to events in and around Gaza since October of 2023.
The sermon will be part of the congregation’s 9:30AM worship, with the discussion to follow at 3 p.m. free and open to the public. These events follow the Feb. 20-22, 2026 Camden Conference, Today’s Middle East: Power Politics and Players |
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| March 1: BelPres Forum “Hope for Israel & Palestine” with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon Join CMEP executive director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon at Belpres on March 1. The church will host a light lunch and have a presentation to follow. Rev. Dr. Cannon will present an overview and update on the current landscape and realities, and Pastor Scott will provide a biblical framework for how Christians can think though it and respond. A Q&A will follow. |
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| | March 24, 2026: Who is My Neighbor? How Christians Can Challenge Islamophobia and Advocate for Just Peace in Times of Fear In times of heightened fear, polarization, and violence here at home and around the world, Christian communities are called to reflect deeply on what it means to love our neighbors (Matthew 22:39). On March 24th, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign (S2S) for a critical conversation exploring the links between challenging Islamophobia in our churches and communities and advocating for a just peace in both the United States and the Middle East. This online session features scholar-practitioners Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, Rev. Dr. Michael Woolf, and Dr. Jordan Denari Duffner, each of whom bring expertise in Christian-Muslim relations and community advocacy, as well as familiarity with Israel/Palestine peacebuilding efforts. Together, we will consider how church communities can faithfully and impactfully build bridges and foster solidarity with our neighbors.
This event will take place via Zoom from 2pm-3:15pm. |
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| May 5-7: Joint Christian Advocacy Summit 2026
Location Announced: Shiloh Baptist Church: 1500 9th St NW, Washington, DC 20001 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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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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