 | September 18th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. Trump administration plans to send powerful bombs to Israel in $2.8 billion weapons sale AP News "The Trump administration is planning to deliver powerful 2,000-pound bombs to Israel as part of an upcoming arms deal, weapons that prompted such concerns about the possibility of mass casualties in Gaza that the Biden administration paused their delivery two years ago. The $2.8 billion package includes 40,000 of the bombs, made up of 20,000 Mk84s and 20,000 BLU-117s, according to two U.S. officials and a person familiar with the plan who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity to discuss the package, which is not yet final." |
| |
|
| 2. UN mission finds grounds to believe US committed war crimes in Iran, and Tehran crimes against humanity Reuters "A UN fact-finding mission on Iran said on Thursday it had reasonable grounds to believe the United States was behind two military strikes on a school and sports facility in Iran in February, and that these constituted war crimes. It also found that Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity during their deadly crackdown on anti-government protests. The findings in a new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, to be submitted to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, examined the US's conduct during the Iran war that began in February and the Iranian government's response to nationwide unrest that began in late December." |
| |
|
| 3. UN nuclear watchdog board reports Iran to the UN Security Council for the first time in 20 years AP News "The U.N. atomic watchdog’s board on Wednesday reported Iran to the U.N. Security Council for the first time in 20 years, citing it for failure to cooperate in a long-running investigation into uranium traces detected by inspectors at undeclared sites. Western officials suspect that the traces could provide evidence that Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program until 2003. Iran says that it’s not pursuing nuclear weapons, and that its program is entirely peaceful." |
| |
|
| 4. Houthi blitz leaves Saudi Arabia exposed, Iran emboldened Reuters "The Houthi capture of ground overlooking the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has dealt Saudi Arabia its gravest setback in Yemen in years, exposing intelligence failures, the collapse of Yemeni allies and the limits of U.S. protection. A Houthi advance this week along the Red Sea coast and the capture of islands at the mouth of the strait, a vital artery for global oil supplies, has also left the kingdom scrambling for backing as Iran and its allies expand their reach." |
| |
|
| 5. IDF soldier shoots, injures Palestinian who posed no apparent threat amid settler clash Times of Israel "The military said Saturday it was investigating a soldier who shot a Palestinian man in the leg in the northern West Bank amid a clash with settlers, apparently in breach of army protocol. The injured man was taken by the Palestinian Red Crescent for treatment. His condition was not given. Footage showed that the man was shot while not throwing stones or posing any apparent threat to the soldiers. […] 'The incident is being investigated by commanders, and its findings will be forwarded for review by the relevant authorities,' the army added." |
|
|
| | 6. Gaza’s only Catholic school reopens after 3-year closure EWTN News "A Catholic school in the war-torn Gaza Strip reopened its doors this week after being closed for nearly three years. Holy Family School, attached to Gaza’s only Catholic church, Holy Family Parish, welcomed approximately 1,000 students back to school on Sept. 15, according to the Catholic aid group Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Holy Family’s parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, told a visiting delegation from ACN that he hopes the reopening of the school 'will bring some sense of normality' to the students and their families, 'even though nothing is normal in Gaza.'" |
| |
|
| 7. War-damaged Gaza building collapses, killing 20 people sheltering inside Reuters "Gaza rescuers on Wednesday searched through the wreckage of a bombed-out apartment building that collapsed overnight, killing at least 20 Palestinians including children and trapping dozens of others beneath the rubble. Tens of thousands of Palestinians are living in some 2,000 buildings damaged by Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Rescue workers from Gaza's civil defence said at least 20 people, including six children, were killed and 14 others injured when the seven-storey building collapsed. Nearly 100 more people were believed to be under the rubble." |
| |
|
| 8. Palestinian American activist arrested and ‘charged for trespassing at a public hearing’ The Guardian "The human rights lawyer Noura Erakat was arrested on Tuesday at a Palm Beach county, Florida, budget hearing about the county’s more than $1bn investments in Israeli bonds. Erakat, a prominent Palestinian American activist, legal scholar and Guardian contributor, was one of several people in attendance at the public commission hearing who were forcibly removed by local law enforcement. The removal happened when the group attempted to speak out against the county’s investment in the bonds – the largest by a municipal government." |
| |
|
| | September 15, 2026: Islander Mae Cannon competes in Ironman for Gaza CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon published an op-ed in the San Juan Journal about competing in an Ironman race in solidarity with the people of Gaza. The article highlights her commitment to raising awareness of the ongoing humanitarian crisis and her conviction that faith calls Christians to stand with those experiencing injustice and suffering. She describes how undertaking this extraordinary physical challenge works to draw attention to the devastating realities facing Palestinians in Gaza and inspires others to act in solidarity. |
| |
|
| September 17, 2026: CMEP Delegation Travels to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine for Regional Peace, Interfaith, and Christian Community Engagement Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) recently completed a regional delegation to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine, bringing together senior CMEP leadership and Christian partners for a series of meetings with government officials, religious leaders, humanitarian organizations, civil society partners, and communities directly affected by the ongoing crises in the Holy Land. The delegation included Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP, and Christopher Huth, Middle East Partnerships Manager. In Jerusalem, they were joined by His Eminence Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Apostolic Church and Her Excellency Vicki Downey of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. |
| |
|
| September 19, 2026: Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon to Compete in Ironman Triathlon Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon will compete in the full-distance Ironman triathlon in Cambridge, Maryland, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, racing from sunrise until midnight. Cannon is aiming to raise $140,600 for CMEP's advocacy work in the Middle East, with particular attention to Gaza, calling the effort a physical embodiment of CMEP's motto that "peace is possible, justice will prevail." CMEP is accepting donations to support her race, with proceeds helping fund the organization's continued work for peace and justice in the region. |
| |
|
| Action Alert: Funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network in the 2027 Fiscal Year As the IDF moves further into Gaza, it is forcing the entirety of Gaza’s remaining population into just 30% of the strip’s area, where the medical situation grows increasingly untenable. It is in this environment of shortage and restriction that the East Jerusalem Hospital Network (EJHN) operates and makes its vital impact. They are the only hope for Gazans, and even West Bankers, in need of sustained, complex treatment for their survival. To secure funding and ensure EJHN can continue to serve the vulnerable of the West Bank and Gaza, urge your Member of Congress to pressure the State Department to allocate the EJHN funds. |
| |
|
| Action Alert: Tell Congress to Respond to Settler Violence and Protect Palestinian Lives Since October 7th, 2023, illegal Israeli settlements have grown and spread across the West Bank in complete contravention of international and even Israeli law. These settlements undermine Palestinian access to critical natural resources and land and undermine hope for a just and lasting solution. Furthermore, the Israeli settlers at the forefront of these illegal land grabs assault Palestinians with almost no punishment from the Israeli justice system — and many times are aided by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). To stop this violence, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls for immediate U.S pressure on Israel to stop approving settlements and prosecute those that commit crimes against Palestinians. |
| |
|
| Blogging for Peace: Follow Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP, on Substack Stay up to date with reflections from CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. Her Substack features updates on developments in Gaza and across the Middle East, commentary on U.S. policy, CMEP webinars and events, meeting transcripts, and reflections on faith, justice, and peace. |
| | |
|
| | September 22, 2026: Christian-Muslim Cooperation for Palestinian Human Rights Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, and International Qur'an Research Association (IQRA) President, Dr. Safi Kaskas, for an interfaith webinar on the role of Christian and Muslim organizations in advocating for peace and justice in the Holy Land. As a land holy to all, this webinar will explore our role as faith based organizations in advocating for human rights and exploring how Christians and Muslims can work side-by-side to pursue a just future for the Holy Land. |
| |
|
| October 22, 2026: Peacebuilding Lessons from the Middle East Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET This moment in history is marked by profound brokenness and trauma affecting individuals, communities, and nations alike. In a world increasingly divided by conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, Christians from the region offer invaluable insights on resiliently living out one’s faith amidst adversity. Join Churches for Middle East Peace executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, for this course exploring the vibrant, living church in the Holy Land, with a focus on Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories as they strive to deepen their relationship with God through their commitment to peace and justice within their communities. This workshop takes an interdisciplinary approach, interweaving history, practical theology, and contemporary ministry practices in peacebuilding. Participants will gain access to essential tools for spiritual formation and advocacy applicable in a variety of ministry settings. A central theme will be the transformative journey of learning to 'love one’s enemy,' even in the face of conflict and strife, ultimately equipping learners to apply these lessons in their own lives and ministries. |
| | |
|
| November 5-7: Church at the Crossroads in Atlanta This November, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is excited to once again partner with the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice (BIPJ) as they bring the Church at the Crossroads conference to Atlanta November 5-7, 2026. Rooted in Scripture and kingdom-focussed theology, this conference invites participants to wrestle honestly with biblical questions, hear directly from the indigenous Church in the Holy Land, and discover faithful discipleship in a violent world. |
| |
|
| Christian Advocacy Summit for Just Peace in Palestine Join Christians from across the United States in Washington, D.C. April 19-21, 2027 for the Christian Advocacy Summit as we gather to uphold the cause of the oppressed (Psalm 146:7–9) and advocate for a just peace in Palestine and Israel. Over three days, participants will engage in inspiring plenary sessions, practical breakout workshops, worship, fellowship, and advocacy training focused on advancing U.S. foreign policy that promotes peace, justice, human rights, and equal dignity for all people in the Holy Land. Together, we will strengthen our shared Christian witness and prepare to engage policymakers with a unified call for a just and lasting peace. Discounted early-bird registration is available until October 15, 2026 or until we've sold our first 50 tickets–– so act fast! |
| |
|
| | September 13, 2026: Let Children Live A Guest Sermon at Grinnell UCC On Sunday, September 13th CMEP programs and outreach manager, Destiny Magnett joined Grinnell UCC for the kickoff of their program year, offering a guest sermon on the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:10-14). Her sermon focused on the sacredness of children, non-typical interpretations of the parable, and related the gospel lesson of CMEP's pursuit of just peace in Palestine. |
| |
|
| | Contact Us Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP)
110 Maryland Ave NE, Suite 505
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
(202) 543-1222 [email protected] |
|
|
| |
|
|
