 |  | May 23rd News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. UK, France, Canada threaten sanctions if Israel continues new offensive into Gaza. Here’s what we know CNN “International pressure has been building on Israel over its new military offensive in Gaza that has left hundreds dead in just the last few days. The leaders of the United Kingdom, France, and Canada threatened to take “concrete actions” on Monday, including targeted sanctions, if Israel does not stop its renewed military offensive and continues to block aid from entering Gaza.” | | | | | | 2. International outrage rings out after troops fire near dozens of diplomats in Jenin Times of Israel "A wave of international condemnations and diplomatic summons flowed on Wednesday after Israeli troops fired warning shots near a group of diplomats from nearly two dozen countries as they were touring the West Bank city of Jenin with the Palestinian Authority earlier in the day. Videos showed diplomats running for cover after soldiers on a road blocked off by a large yellow gate aimed rifles and fired shots in the air near the group. No injuries were reported in the confrontation, which involved diplomats from Britain, Canada, France, China, Russia and the European Union, among others, according to the Palestinian Authority foreign ministry." | | | | | | 3. Palestinian minister reports 29 starvation-related deaths among Gazan children, elderly Reuters “The Palestinian health minister said on Thursday that 29 children and elderly people had died from starvation-related deaths in Gaza in recent days and that many thousands more were at risk.
Food aid is expected to start reaching Gazans on Thursday after Israel let the first trucks through following an 11-week blockade, but Palestinian and aid officials say it is just a fraction of what is needed."In the last couple of days we lost 29 children," Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan told reporters, describing them as "starvation-related deaths". He later clarified that the total included elderly people as well as children.” | | | | | | 4. Two Israeli Embassy staff shot and killed outside Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. CBS News "Two Israeli Embassy employees — including an American — were shot and killed Wednesday night as they left the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., officials said. A suspect is in custody. The victims have been identified as Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim. Law enforcement officials described the attack as "targeted" and said the suspect shouted "Free Palestine" as he was being detained. The shooting was being investigated as a hate crime, a law enforcement source said." | | | | | | | | | | Beyond Horizons: Racing for Liberation Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) presents Beyond Horizons: Racing for Liberation, a bold fundraising journey led by Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. As she trains for and completes a full Ironman Triathlon—140.6 miles of swimming, biking, and running—Rev. Dr. Cannon aims to raise $1000 per mile for a total of $140,600 in support of peace, justice, and liberation in the Middle East. All funds raised will support the work of Churches for Middle East Peace, an organization Rev. Dr. Cannon has had the privilege of leading for over 8 years. For over 40 years, CMEP has been advocating, educating, and elevating voices in the Middle East, with the steadfast belief that peace is possible, and justice will prevail when we work together. Join her on this journey. Together, we can race for liberation. Your contribution will not only help Rev. Dr. Cannon complete this challenge, but also support the incredible work being done to promote peace and justice in a region that so desperately needs it. | | | | | | | | Call to Prayer: Shady Khoury In 2022, Shadi was arrested, beaten, and held in military detention for 44 days. Since his release, Shadi has attended more than thirty court sessions and forced to schedule his life around court dates that could potentially be postponed at the last minute. His last hearing, which took place April 27, 2025, was postponed when a witness, who is a child, failed to appear. The postponement of this hearing prolongs an unjust and psychologically demoralizing process. Shadi's next hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2025. Please join us in praying that ALL charges would be dropped so that Shadi and his family can be free from this burden. | | | | | | | | | | CMEP Catholic Advisory Council Spring Mini-Course: May 14, 28, and June 11 Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), in collaboration with its Catholic Advisory Council, is excited to invite you to a special three-part Spring Mini-Course series taking place on May 14, May 28, and June 11. This event, hosted on Zoom, will explore how Catholic and Christian communities in the Holy Land are responding to the profound challenges of life under occupation and ongoing conflict. Together, we’ll examine key areas where faith-based institutions are providing critical support, including health care, education, and the defense of human rights and religious freedom. These conversations will highlight stories of resilience, compassion, and advocacy from those working on the front lines of humanitarian and justice efforts. We look forward to having you join us for these powerful and timely sessions. | | | | | | May 27th God's Earth, Not Ours to Own: Undoing Possession through Christian Hope The idea of land is often dismissed in modern society, reducing the concept of land to the amount of grass we must mow each week. However, land is tied to justice and peace. As people and societies acquire more land, they also gain more power, control, and resources. Join Churches for Middle East Peace and a distinguished panel of guests, including Dr. Willie James Jennings, Mark Charles, and Dr. Ben Norquist, as we discuss the theology of land and the imagination of place. This webinar will take place May 27 at 2:00 pm Eastern. | | | | | | Solidarity Sunday On Sunday, June 8th, Churches for Middle East Peace and its 35 member denominations and communions call upon congregations in the U.S. and worldwide to pray for peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East as part of Solidarity Sunday. In mid-May, CMEP will provide resources to shape Sunday prayers, worship, liturgy, and other aspects of Solidarity Sunday services, including videos from voices in the region. Resources will be ecumenically and politically diverse, allowing each community to shape their Solidarity Sunday around their own traditions and commitments. This day of prayerful solidarity and calls for justice comes as we observe the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday. | | | | | | Church at the Crossroads September 11-13 Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and faithful witnesses from across the country for Church at the Crossroads, a national gathering of Christians who recognize that the church stands at a defining moment–Jesus is urgently calling us back to the narrow way of the cross. As violence escalates in Israel and Palestine, and some in the Church use Scripture to justify war, occupation, or silence, we must ask: Have we traded the gospel of peace for the false promises of security and comfort?
Rooted in Scripture and led by Palestinian Christian leaders, including CMEP executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon—alongside pastors and peacemakers from across North America—this conference invites American Christians to engage in honest reckoning, prophetic reflection, and faithful action. Through worship, prayer, teaching, and fellowship, we are called to repentance, renewal, and courageous discipleship. This is a space to confront harmful theologies, rediscover the gospel of the Kingdom, and stand with all who seek justice in the land. | | | | | | | | 5. Mahmoud Abbas agrees on roadmap to disarm Palestinian factions in Lebanon Middle East Eye "Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has agreed on a framework to disarm Palestinian factions within Lebanon during his three-day trip to the country. After meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Wednesday, a joint statement released on the Lebanese presidency's X account said there was a commitment by "both sides to the principle that all weapons in the country must controlled by state authorities". "They declare their belief that the era of weapons outside the authority of the Lebanese state is over," the statement read." | | | | | | 6. Israeli airstrikes hit south Lebanon before region’s first elections in years The Gurdian “Israel carried out a wave of airstrikes on south Lebanon, killing one person and wounding another, before the first municipal elections in south Lebanon in more than nine years. The strikes began on Thursday afternoon and the Israeli military issued an evacuation warning for residents of Toul, just outside the city of Nabatieh, before carrying out an airstrike there." | | | | | | 7. UN says 90 lorry loads of aid now in Gaza after three-day delay at crossing BBC "More than 90 lorry loads of humanitarian aid have been collected by UN teams inside the Gaza Strip, three days after Israel eased an 11-week-long blockade. The aid, which included flour, baby food and medical equipment, was picked up from the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday night and taken to warehouses for distribution. Several bakeries began producing bread with the flour on Thursday.The UN said the delays were due to a lack of security along the single access route approved by Israel's military." | | | | | | 8. Rubio warns Syria could be weeks away from 'full-scale civil war' BBC "US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for Syria's transitional authorities to be supported, warning that the country could be only weeks away from "potential collapse and a full-scale civil war of epic proportions". At a hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he defended President Donald Trump's decision last week to lift sanctions on Syria before meeting President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda commander who led the rebel offensive that overthrew Bashar al-Assad in December." | | | | | | | | May 14 2025: CMEP CAC Spring Mini-Course Part 1: Healing and Hope Amidst Catastrophe: The State of Health Care in Gaza and the West Bank
On May 14th 2025 CMEP's Catholic Advisory Council (CAC) was honored to host Dr. Greg Shay and Shireen Khamis for Part 1 of our new CMEP CAC Spring Mini-Course titled "Healing and Hope Amidst Catastrophe: The State of Health Care in Gaza and the West Bank". During this webinar, Dr. Shay shared updates about the situation in Gaza, including from his own experiences providing aid to countless in need, including most recently during October 2024. Shireen, who works at the Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem, was able to give us an overview of what the medical situation looks like in the occupied West Bank. CAC members Julie Cohen and Jeff Abood moderated the discussion, which concluded with a QandA session from the audience and calls to action to U.S. elected officials to allow for the distribution of aid in the Gaza Strip. | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
