 |  | September 19th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. UN commission says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza CNN "An independent United Nations inquiry has concluded for the first time that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and that the country’s top leaders have incited genocide, in what it described as the “most authoritative UN finding to date.” In a 72-page report released on Tuesday, the commission, which was set up by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), found that Israel has “committed four genocidal acts” in the enclave since October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out deadly attacks on Israel and Israel launched its military campaign." | | | | | | 2. Israeli minister touts Gaza 'real estate bonanza', defying international backlash BBC "Israel's far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has said the Gaza Strip could be a "real estate bonanza" and that he is in talks with the US about dividing up the territory after the war - an idea previously condemned internationally. Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv, he said "a business plan is on President Trump's table". "We've done the demolition phase... Now we need to build," he said. In February, Donald Trump floated plans for the US to take "a long-term ownership position" over Gaza, saying it could be the "Riviera of the Middle East". The idea would involve the forced displacement of Palestinians in the territory and be in violation of international law." | | | | | | 3. EU Commission proposes suspending free-trade arrangements on Israeli goods Reuters "The European Commission on Wednesday proposed suspending a trade arrangement affecting about 5.8 billion euros ($6.87 billion) of Israeli exports due to the Gaza war, although the measure does not currently have enough support among EU nations to pass. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also proposed a package of sanctions on two Israeli ministers, as well as "violent" Israeli settlers and 10 senior members of Palestinian militant group Hamas." | | | | | | 4. Aid driver kills two Israeli military personnel at Jordan border crossing Reuters "A driver bringing humanitarian aid from Jordan for Gaza opened fire and killed two Israeli military personnel at the Allenby Crossing into the West Bank on Thursday before being killed by security forces, authorities from both nations said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for what Israel denounced as a "terror attack" at the only gateway for Palestinians from the Israeli-occupied West Bank to Jordan." | | | | | | | | July 10, 2025: 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. | | | | | | | | Call to Prayer for Shadi Khoury On Sept, 8th 2025, after two years and eleven months of procrastination in the corridors of the occupation's courts, after an arrest accompanied by torture, Shadi's steadfastness during interrogation, a full year of house arrest, and thirty-seven consecutive court sessions, the judge issued his decision convicting Shadi. Please join us on Wednesdays 12:30pm EST as we pray for Shadi and all other affected by unjust violence. | | | | | | Sep 15, 2025: CMEP Condemns the Jerusalem attack by Hamas and the Israeli attack on Qatar as further escalations in the ongoing Israel/Hamas War Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is appalled by the alarming escalation of violence across the Middle East over the past week in the ongoing battle between Israel and Hamas. Civilians pay the highest price. The violence must stop, and the ongoing killing must be brought to an end. The cycle of brutality continues to devastate lives, fueling greater insecurity and suffering for all. | | | | | | Sep 18, 2025 CMEP Statement on the Freezing of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s Bank Accounts On August 6, 2025, the Jerusalem Municipality froze the bank accounts of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. This action is deeply troubling, both in its immediate impact and in its broader implications. It constitutes a direct violation of the historic Status Quo that has governed Jerusalem for centuries and threatens the ability of the Churches to provide vital spiritual, educational, charitable, and social services to their communities. | | | | | | | | Destiny Magnett Guest Sermon at First Moravian Church (Dover, OH) Join CMEP programs and outreach manager, Destiny Magnett, for a special guest sermon at First Moravian Church (Dover, OH) on Sunday, September 21st. Destiny will share a message that uses scripture to help us understand how to respond faithfully, through Christian witness, to all that's happening in the Holy Land. The service will also be livestreamed. Following the service, Destiny will join worshippers for Q&A and casual conversation during coffee hour. | | | | | | Kyle Cristofalo at National United Methodist Church (Washington, DC) On Sunday, September 21st, join CMEP senior director of advocacy and government relations, Kyle Cristofalo, for a special adult education session "Faithful Approaches for Seeking a Just Peace in Palestine and the Broader Middle East" at National United Methodist Church. Kyle will share updates from the ground, give an overview of the work of Churches for Middle East Peace, and seek to answer the question– what are the responsibilities and opportunities the church has to engage faithfully around seeking just peace in Palestine and the broader Middle East? including practical steps we can take for faithful advocacy in DC and beyond. | | | | | | September 21, 2025, Prayer on UN World Peace Day Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), alongside partner organizations, is calling churches across the world to join in prayer and public witness on Sunday, 21 September 2025—UN World Peace Day. In response to the devastating violence in Gaza and the West Bank and the urgent appeals of Palestinian church leaders, congregations are invited to pray for peace, include a minute’s silence in services, use Archbishop Hosam Naoum’s prayer for the Holy Land, and join actions such as #FastforGaza. Together, the Church is called to a visible, united witness for peace, justice, and reconciliation. | | | | | | September 26, 2025: KTH 11th International Palestinian Diaspora Conference Know Thy Heritage (KTH) invites you to gather with Palestinian leaders, innovators, and allies from around the world on September 26–27, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Together we will honor heritage, amplify Palestinian voices, and build pathways for political, cultural, and economic empowerment—featuring panels, workshops, and the annual Awards Banquet. We’re honored that Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), will be moderating the roundtable discussion at this year’s conference. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, learn, and take action for Palestine’s future. | | | | | | September 26, 2025: CMEP Webinar: Where is Syria Now?
Join CMEP on September 26th at 6:00 PM for a webinar about Syria. The webinar will cover 3 topics of present-day Syria. We will hear from Rachel Nelson about the Jewish community in Syria, as well as Israel's ongoing occupation of Southern Syria coupled with the ongoing clashes in Suwayda. Tony Alkhoury will talk to us about the Christian community as well as the role of the Syrian Churches in crisis, where do things stand now? Finally, CMEP Board member Sasha Gosh-Siminoff will inform us about aid and development as well as the lack of a transitional justice system aimed at holding all perpetrators accountable. | | | | | | Churches for Middle East Peace
Nov. 2025 Encountering the Holy Land Trip Join Churches for Middle East Peace as we journey to Israel/Palestine in November 2025 for Encountering the Holy Land. 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, participants will engage in thoughtful conversations that bring deeper understanding of the complex realities on the ground today. Trip Dates: November 8th - 17th, 2025
* $500 deposit due by September 28th to reserve your spot *
Full payment due by October 15th, 2025 | | | | | | "Peace by Piece" 2025 Speaking Tour Fall "Peace by Piece" Tour Cities Announced!Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is excited to announce our Fall 2025 “Peace by Piece” Tour coming to your area in Fall 2025 in collaboration with the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans (BFTA)! We invite you to host a meaningful event in your community centered around peacebuilding, economic justice, and advocacy related to Israel-Palestine. In collaboration with Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, this program offers a unique opportunity to support Christian-led Palestinian craftspeople while fostering dialogue about paths toward peace and justice in the Holy Land. Our tour will visit select U.S. communities, featuring both a CMEP representative and a BFTA leader from Bethlehem who will share firsthand experiences about daily life, creative resilience, and hopes for peace. This initiative is particularly timely as communities in the region continue to recover from recent violence and conflict. Our presentations will incorporate the most current insights from our team's recent visits to the region, including perspectives from diverse communities affected by ongoing tensions.
Reach out to destiny@cmep.org for more information
Planned Tour Stops: New York-- New Jersey-- Delaware-- Washington DC-- Illinois-- Minnesota-- Michigan | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | 5. Worst drought in decades threatening Syria's fragile recovery from years of civil war ABC News "The worst drought in decades is gripping much of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East, drying out rivers and lakes, shriveling crops and leading to dayslong tap water cutoffs in major cities. The situation is particularly dire in Syria, where experts say rainfall has been declining for decades and where the fledgling government is trying to stitch the country back together following a 14-year civil war that left millions impoverished and reliant on foreign aid." | | | | | | 6. Few Lebanese families return to villages in south destroyed by Israel war Al-Jazeera "We arrive at Abou Chach, which lies a few kilometres from the border with Israel, and, like so many other villages, it has been destroyed by war. We meet a family among a few who have returned to what is still an area of conflict. Living in what they describe as a ghost town, the Shabbi family has to contend with the destruction around them, with the children missing out on their education because the village school has been destroyed." | | | | | | 7. Israel and the myth that Christians are flourishing in Palestine Arab News "In an effort to ramp up its hasbara, or propaganda, Israel is trying to appeal to US Christians. Early this month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on a podcast run by a conservative Christian commentator. The host talked about a “great experience” he had when visiting Israel as part of a church group. However, he mentioned that, during the visit, the congregation’s pastor was spat on by a child. Netanyahu was barely able to refrain from laughing." | | | | | | 8. Palestinian Christians at Chicago conference ask fellow believers to stand against Gaza war Religious News Service "Earlier this year, Lydia El-Sayegh got the good news that her beloved grandmother was able to escape from Gaza. While thankful her relative was no longer in a war zone, the news was bittersweet. “It’s a blessing and a tragedy,” said the 25-year-old El-Sayegh, sitting on a bench outside of Parkview Community Church in Chicago’s western suburbs on Friday (Sept. 12). “She should never have had to experience all that or had to leave her home in the first place.” El-Sayegh was one of several Palestinians speaking at the Church at the Crossroads conference, a three-day event held at Parkview this week that aims to rally Christians to speak up for their fellow believers in Gaza." | | | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
