 |  | March 7th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | Israel blocks entry of all humanitarian aid into Gaza BBC “A Hamas spokesman said blocking supplies to Gaza was "cheap blackmail" and a "coup" on the ceasefire agreement and urged mediators to intervene. The ceasefire deal halted 15 months of fighting between Hamas and the Israeli military, allowing the release of 33 Israeli hostages for about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees." | | | | | | | | U.S., Israel reject Gaza reconstruction plan backed by Arab nations CBS News "Arab nations, led by Egypt, that have strongly rejected President Trump's proposal for the U.S. to "take over" the Gaza Strip and displace its more than 2 million Palestinian residents so the enclave can be turned into a luxury real estate development have offered an alternative plan. Leaders from the 22-nation Arab League attended a summit in Cairo Tuesday and unanimously adopted the Egyptian proposal, which does not foresee any of Gaza's residents being forced to leave during reconstruction." | | | | | | | | Trump warns Hamas as US holds unprecedented talks for Gaza hostages Reuters "The United States broke a longstanding diplomatic taboo by holding secret talks with Hamas on securing the release of U.S. hostages held in Gaza, sources told Reuters on Wednesday, while President Donald Trump warned of "hell to pay" should the Palestinian militant group not comply. U.S. hostage affairs envoy Adam Boehler has the authority to talk directly with Hamas, the White House said when asked about the discussions, which broke with a decades-old policy against negotiating with groups that the U.S. brands as terrorist organizations." | | | | | | | | UNRWA Warns Israel's West Bank Operation Aligns With Annexation 'Vision' Barron's "A major offensive in the occupied West Bank which over several weeks has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians and ravaged refugee camps increasingly appears to be part of Israel's "vision of annexation", a UN official told AFP. Israeli forces carry out regular raids targeting militants in the West Bank, occupied since 1967, but the ongoing operation since late January is already the longest in two decades, with dire effects on Palestinians." | | | | | | | | | | | | | In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Christian communities in Jerusalem, particularly the renewed pressures surrounding the Arnona tax dispute and the breaking of the historic status quo. CMEP also affirms the concerns raised by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem regarding the foreclosure threats against the Armenian Patriarchate. CMEP warns that these actions threaten the Christian presence in the Holy Land and urges U.S. and international intervention to protect religious freedom and the sacred nature of Jerusalem for all faiths. | | | | | | Christian Zionism and Its Current Manifestations: Podcast The Middle East Center at The New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy is proud to initiate a special new podcast series, “Bridging the Gap: Conversations on Israel and Palestine.” This series, led by Rachel Nelson, an Analyst in the Middle East Center, provides nuanced, detailed, and on-the-ground perspectives on the situation in Israel and Palestine. In this episode, Rachel sits down with Destiny Magnett, the Programs and Outreach Manager at Churches for Middle East Peace, to discuss Christian Zionism, its current manifestations, and the work that Destiny and CMEP do to foster and advocate for peace in Israel and Palestine. | | | | | | | |  | CMEP's 2025 Advocacy Summit Washington, D.C. March 19-20, 2025 Join Churches for Middle East Peace in Washington, DC at our annual Advocacy Summit March 19-20th, 2025. Day one of the summit, Wednesday, March 19th will include remarks from several expert speakers, updates from CMEP staff, and advocacy training. On Day Two, Thursday, March 20th, you will have the opportunity to put all you've learned into action on Capitol Hill, as you meet with the offices of your senators and representatives.
One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent" (Acts 18:9)
This year, our Advocacy Summit recognizes the tremendous work our constituents and coalitions have done to speak out for justice and calls upon each of us to "keep on speaking" and working for a just peace for all people in the Holy Land. | | | | KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED! | | | | | | Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac Book Launch in Washington, DC Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to invite you to join us on April 1-2, 2025 for the Washington DC launch of Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac's new book "Christ in the Rubble" in Washington DC/ In this impassioned and incisive book, Munther Isaac challenges mainstream Christians’ uncritical embrace of the modern State of Israel.
Writing from Bethlehem with close-up knowledge of conditions on the ground, and rooted in a commitment to nonviolence and just peace, Isaac challenges readers to realign their beliefs and actions with Christ—who can be found not among perpetrators of violence, but with victims buried under the rubble of war. | | April 1: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac Book Launch- Busboys & Poets | | | | April 2: Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac Book Launch- The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (will be live streamed- link to be shared later) | | | | | | | | Come, Walk With Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is pleased to present this Lenten devotional series entitled “Come, Walk With Us” which is available for a suggested donation as a downloadable PDF for you or your church group. This devotional collection contains stories and reflections written by participants in the recent Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimages for Ash Wednesday, each Sunday of Lent, and each day of Holy Week. Each devotion will also be on our Prayers for Peace blog throughout the Lenten holiday season: https://cmep.org/p4p-blog/ #CMEPLent2025
As you participate this Lent, share about your calls and prayers on social media using #GCPilgrimages and tag @ChurchesforMEP | | | | | | Pilgrimage to Peace: North Carolina Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) will be visiting North Carolina as part of our ongoing Pilgrimage to Peace (P2P) tour from March 9-11th! We’re excited to engage with you about peacebuilding and advocacy related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These conversations are especially relevant in the wake of ongoing violence and instability in the region. Please find our confirmed public events below. If you are interested in hosting your own event now or in the future, please reach out to destiny@cmep.org | | | | | | | | Archon Religious Freedom Symposium at the University of South Carolina His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America (Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate), His Eminence Cardinal Christophe Pierre (Apostolic Nuncio to the United States from the Holy See of Rome), and the Reverend Dr. Mae Elise Cannon (Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace, Ordained Pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church) will address a Religious Freedom Symposium, “God Created Us to Live In Harmony (Romans 12:16)” at the University of South Carolina’s Pastides Alumni Center, (900 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201) on March 22nd, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The symposium mission is to look through the lens of the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant faith teachings to better understand how our loving God has protected His flock and the issues facing Christians today. Get your FREE ticket on EVENTBRITE. For additional information, please visit www.archons.org/2025USC. For questions, please contact Symposium322@gmail.com. | | | | | | Clashes in Syria’s coastal region between government forces and Assad loyalists kill more than 70 AP News A Syrian war monitor says gunmen loyal to the government have stormed three villages near Syria’s coast, killing nearly 70 men. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the killings occurred Friday in the villages of Sheer, Mukhtariyeh and Haffah. “They killed every man they encountered,” the Observatory’s chief, Rami Abdurrahman, referring to gunmen who killed residents who belong to the country’s minority Alawite sect of former President Bashar Assad. | | | | | | Lebanon and Saudi Arabia work to improve relations, call for Israeli withdrawal AP News Lebanon’s president ended a visit to Saudi Arabia Tuesday where he discussed regional affairs with the kingdom’s crown prince after which both countries said Israeli troops should withdraw from south Lebanon and only the Lebanese state should have weapons. The visit by Joseph Aoun, the first by a Lebanese head of state to the oil-rich kingdom in eight years, improves ties between the two countries that have been cold for years over Iran’s influence in Lebanon. | | | | | | | | Kurdish PKK insurgents declare ceasefire in 40-year conflict with Turkey PBS Kurdish militants who have waged a 40-year insurgency in Turkey declared a ceasefire on Saturday in what could mark a significant boost to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government, two days after their imprisoned leader called for the group to disarm. | | | | | | | | Palestinians hope ‘No Other Land’ Oscar win brings help as they face possible Israeli expulsion AP News "Just last week, Israeli troops came and tore down a Palestinian family’s shed in this remote, hilly corner of the West Bank, residents say. It was the latest instance of destruction targeting a collection of hamlets whose population is threatened with expulsion. Palestinians in the Masafer Yatta area cheered the Oscar win of the documentary “No Other Land,” which depicts life in the beleaguered community, and hoped it will bring them some help." | | | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
