 |  | February 27th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. With rocks, clubs and flammable liquid, Jewish settlers descend on a Palestinian hamlet AP News "Dozens of Jewish settlers carrying clubs, rocks and bottles of flammable liquid strode into the Palestinian hamlet of Susiya and set fire to vehicles, security camera footage obtained by The Associated Press on Wednesday shows.The footage of Tuesday’s attack is the most recent demonstration of what Palestinians in this area of the Israeli-occupied West Bank say they routinely face". |
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| 2. Heavy rains flood Gaza tents as Israel kills two more Palestinians Al Jazeera "Palestinians across Gaza have woken up to heavy rains that flooded their makeshift tents as they brave the winter with little to no protection. The enclave was hit by a winter storm late Monday through Tuesday – the first since the start of the holy month of Ramadan – with Gaza’s civil defence units reporting multiple distress calls overnight". |
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| 3. US envoy Mike Huckabee says it would be ‘fine’ if Israel took all Middle East land The Guardian :"The US’s ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has contended to the podcaster Tucker Carlson that Israel has a biblical right to take over the entire Middle East – or at least the lion’s share of it. “It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee said to Carlson during an interview posted on Friday. The Trump administration appointee and former Arkansas governor discussed with Carlson interpretations of Old Testament scripture within the US Christian nationalist movement". |
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| 4. US and Iran hold talks seen as crucial to prevent conflict BBC News "US and Iranian officials have met in Geneva for a third round of indirect talks seen as crucial to averting conflict, with President Donald Trump threatening to strike Iran if a nuclear deal is not reached. The discussions come amid the largest US military build-up in the Middle East since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and with Iran vowing to respond to an attack with force". |
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| | 5. Lebanon urges Hezbollah militant group to avoid getting involved if the US strikes Iran AP News "Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Youssef Rajji on Tuesday urged the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah not to get involved in any fighting between the United States and Iran, expressing concerns about a new possible conflict with Israel. Rajji told journalists in Geneva that Lebanese officials had been warned that in the event of another Israel-Hezbollah war, Israel would strike harder against civilian infrastructure across Lebanon than in the previous round of fighting". |
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| 6. Syria reports ‘mass escape’ from detention camp holding ISIS-linked families amid reports thousands fled CNN News "A 'mass escape' took place last month from Syria’s al-Hol camp that holds families linked to the Islamic State following the withdrawal of Kurdish forces, according to Syrian TV, amid reports thousands of people may have fled. Nureddin Baba, a Syrian Interior Ministry spokesperson, was cited as saying that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) withdrew from the camp without coordination with the Syrian government or the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS". |
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| 7. Ramadan: A Test of Conscience in Jerusalem For Modern Diplomacy by Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan "For decades, Jerusalem rested on a fragile balance, sustained not by force but by inherited practices, recognised limits, and a shared ethic of restraint. Today, this balance is unravelling. Faith is increasingly mobilised as a political instrument, sacred space has become a site of confrontation, and profound transformations of the city are taking place with little legal or political restraint." |
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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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| Feb 24, 2026: Humanitarian Organizations petition Israeli High Court as closure deadline approaches Thirty-seven international aid organisations have been ordered by Israeli authorities to cease operations in the occupied Palestinian territory by the end of February under revised Israeli registration rules. With efforts to force closures imminent, a group of leading humanitarian Organizations, including Churches for Middle East Peace, have taken the unprecedented step of jointly petitioning the Israeli High Court to suspend the measures before irreparable harm is done to civilians who rely on their assistance. |
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| Feb 25, 2026: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Statement on the Killing of Nasrallah Abu Siyam Nasrallah Abu Siyam is the first Palestinian killed by settlers this year, and at least the sixth American citizen to be killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since October 2023. His death underscores a deeply troubling and repeated pattern: the persistent lack of justice in Israeli investigations and court proceedings related to violence against Palestinians, alongside the failure of the United States government to pursue meaningful accountability for the killing of its own citizens abroad. |
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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. Read more about his story here. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. |
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| Feb 23, 2026: Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Announces Cooperative Baptist Fellowship as New Board Member Organization Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to announce that the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) has joined as CMEP’s newest member communion, further strengthening the broad ecumenical witness for peace and justice in the Middle East. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a network of churches and individuals across the United States and globally, committed to historic Baptist principles of freedom, local church autonomy, and global missions engagement. CBF advocates for justice, fosters vibrant congregational life, and equips leaders for faithful Christian witness in a complex world. |
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| CMEP in the News: A Palestinian American talks to Tucker Carlson about how US evangelicals misunderstand Israel "Mae Elise Cannon, executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of 36 Christian denominations that advocate for justice in the Holy Land, believes it was important for Abraham to share his vision on Carlson’s podcast. “Many American white evangelicals dismiss the church in the Middle East because of the belief that traditional churches or Orthodox churches don’t have a conservative Christology,” Cannon said. “But here you have a conservative Palestinian evangelical who does address the realities of war and violence and conflict. He does it softly and gently and from a very moderate perspective. But I think that’s really important in terms of evangelical perspectives not being viewed as monolithic.” |
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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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| 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 18, 2026: Inter-Faith Iftar and Art Gallery Auction Join CMEP Senior Director of Advocacy & Government Relations, Kyle Cristofalo, at the Jerusalem Fund's first-ever interfaith Iftar on March 18, 2026. The Iftar will feature remarks from Kyle Cristofalo and Imam Yahya Hendi of Georgetown University. The evening is planned as a civic and educational gathering in solidarity with Palestinian families who are trying to observe Ramadan under conditions of siege, occupation, and displacement. It will also feature auctioning artwork by Zahi Khamis, a Palestinian Christian artist from Nazareth. The event starts at 6:30PM. |
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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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| April 20, 2026: Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum Joint Memorial Day Ceremony Churches for Middle East Peace is proud to co-sponsor the Joint Memorial Day Ceremony of the Combatants for Peace and The Parents Circle-Families Forum. Seeking to transform sorrow into collective resolve, this event has brought together Israelis and Palestinians for more than two decades. Even after two and a half years of continued suffering and violence, this year's ceremony will demonstrate that even in times of strife, solidarity is not only possible, but imperative. |
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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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