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August 2nd News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | |
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 | Israeli tanks stand near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from southern Israel, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov) | | | CMEP in the News: More than 200 Christian leaders sign letter calling for ceasefire in Gaza The Christian Century “More than 200 Christian leaders from an array of traditions have signed a letter calling for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war and the release of hostages taken by Hamas, as well as a list of other measures aimed at providing relief in Gaza. “We speak out as Christian leaders with a deep concern for the common good for all affected by war and conflict without exception,” reads the letter, which was organized by Churches for Middle East Peace, a coalition of Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox churches based in Washington." Read the letter here | | | | | | | |
 | This scene during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Paris, Friday, July 26, 2024, was meant to represent the Greek gods during a banquet, according to organizers. (Video screen grab) | | | CMEP in the News: People of Faith Need to Respect Human Lives and Not Worry About the Olympics Word & Way "Growing up in an evangelical home and church, statues and other physical biblical symbols (except for the cross) were never part of the church décor. The first commandment stating that “You shall not make for yourself an idol” strictly prohibits the faithful from creating an idol of any kind. An idol is biblically defined as a created image used as an object of worship." | | | | | |
 | People hold up the Palestinian flag and a portrait of assassinated Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh during a rally at Tehran University, in Iran's capital city, July 31, 2024, as Iran declares three days of mourning. | | | Killings of Hamas leader in Iran and Hezbollah commander in Beirut fuel fears that Israel-Gaza war will spread CBS News "Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Iran's capital after attending the inauguration of the country's new president, Iranian officials and the militant group said early Wednesday. Both blamed Israel for the strike that killed Haniyeh, and Iran's foreign ministry said the U.S. bore responsibility for the killing as Israel's biggest ally." | | | | | | | |
 | © UNRWA A woman attends a health clinic with a baby in the Gaza Strip. (file) | | | Gazans need polio vaccines amid ‘deathly cycle’ of hunger, heat and disease, say UN aid agencies UN News "Almost 10 months of war and intense Israeli bombardment have shattered healthcare in Gaza and disrupted routine inoculation rounds for youngsters, leaving them exposed to a range of preventable diseases including polio, which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed had been identified last month in several sewage samples taken from Gaza." | | | | | |
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An Evening with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac CMEP is co-sponsoring a Network of Evangelicals for the Middle East (NEME) event. Missio Dei Uptown Church invites you to an evening of conversation with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac. Munther Isaac (PhD, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) is the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine and director of the Christ at the Checkpoint conference. He is also a pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. He authored the book From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land.
Join in person for a special evening hearing from Dr. Isaac about Christians in the Palestine and about the war in Gaza. You can also watch live on the Missio Dei Facebook page. | | | | | |
Evangelicalism’s Relentless Zeal for Israel’s Relentless War on Gaza: with advocate Mae Elise Cannon Date: August 13th 11:00 AM EST Join the Christian Forum on Israel-Palestine for a compelling virtual conversation on the Western (Evangelical) Church's unwavering support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, featuring CMEP executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. | | | | | |
Beyond the Headlines August 26th
Join Churches for Middle East Peace on August 26th for a special webinar focusing on women working at the intersections of journalism and media in Palestine, and the unique role women play in shaping stories coming out of the Middle East. This webinar will pay specific attention to the current crisis in Gaza. | | | | | |
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 | Protesters including MPs from Israel's governing coalition gathered at the Sde Teiman base. | | | Israeli protesters enter army base after soldiers held over Gaza detainee abuse BBC News "Israeli far-right protesters broke into an army base in a show of support for soldiers accused of severely mistreating a Palestinian prisoner there. Large crowds gathered outside the Sde Teiman compound after Israeli military police entered it to detain the reservists, who are now subject to an official investigation." | | | | | |
 | Two days after the attack questions remain about why it happened and who is responsible. (AP Photo/ Leo Correa, File) | | | A cratered field, a mangled fence. Clues emerge from strike that killed 12 children in Golan Heights AP News "Two days after a rocket slammed into a soccer field in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights, killing 12 children, many questions remain about the attack on the Druze town of Majdal Shams. Israel accused Hezbollah in Lebanon of deliberately targeting civilians, while the Lebanese militant group quickly issued a rare denial of any responsibility for the attack." | | | | | | | |
 | People in Tehran on Wednesday held Iranian and Palestinian flags and images of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader who was killed in the city that morning.Credit...Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times
Mark Landler | | | Fears of Wider Mideast Conflict Deepen, With U.S. Seen as ‘Not in Control’ New York Times "American officials said they had no advance warning of the attack on the Hamas leader in Iran, raising worries of a power vacuum that could lead to a broader geopolitical crisis." | | | | | | | |
From CMEP's Own: From Isis to faith in Christ: Unveiling Paths of De-radicalisation and Conversion Watch CMEP's Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow (AWCF) Dr. Scott Gustafson interview with Rev. Dr. Rob Dalrymple on the Determine Truth livestream discussing deradicalization and conversion research in the Levant, Just War Theory and the early church. They explored how the Levantine and early church contexts inform concepts of belonging and believing and how people change. They also discussed what the Middle Eastern church might say to the Western church today, including how we might apply research findings on deradicalization to the current Gaza conflict.
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 | CMEP Wednesday Prayers for Peace Churches for Middle East Peace invites you to pray for peace in light of recent events in Gaza, Israel, and the occupied Palestinian territories. Every Wednesday 12:30 pm - 1:00 pm Eastern via Zoom. | | | | |  | CMEP Thursday 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. Every Thursday 10:00 am - 10:30 am Eastern. | | | | | |
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Solidarity Sunday Prayer Service On Sunday, July 21st Churches for Middle East Peace held a communal space of worship, lament, and prayer on Zoom. They watched messages shared with us from Christians in the Holy Land and heard reflections on solidarity from Christian leaders here in the U.S. | | | | | |
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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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