 | October 2nd News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. Iran says it receives US response to latest proposal as Washington pulls out of Iraq Reuters "Iran said on Wednesday it had received a US response to its latest proposal to resurrect the collapsed ceasefire in the Gulf, days after President Donald Trump said he had rejected it. Iran's allies were celebrating on Wednesday after Washington withdrew the last of its forces from neighbouring Iraq, where 4,500 US troops died in the biggest US war of the century. More than 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in chaos unleashed after US forces toppled dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003." |
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| 2. Choke Points: How Israeli Checkpoints Suffocate Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank Wired "Aref Jaber is on a neighbor's roof, trying to get home. At 51, he is clambering over a wall into the next backyard, up onto the next roof, along the line of stone houses that stand between him and his own front door. He has no choice. Alleys and side streets in his neighborhood have been sealed with cement blocks and barbed wire, and a single point of access, called Checkpoint 160, is the only way in or out for the 140 families who live there…" |
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| 3. Vatican's top diplomat pushes 2-state solution, 'limits' on AI at UN General Assembly National Catholic Reporter "The Vatican secretary of state on Sept. 24 reiterated the Holy See's support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East and also called for limits on the fast pace of the development of artificial intelligence. 'The Holy See's position is clear: The two-state solution, based on secure and internationally recognized borders, is the only viable and equitable path toward a just and lasting peace,' Cardinal Pietro Parolin told world leaders and top diplomats at high-level meetings during the United Nations General Assembly in New York." |
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| 4. US Senate blocks measure demanding report on rights violations in West Bank Reuters "US Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bid to require President Donald Trump's administration to report to Congress on increasing violence in the occupied West Bank, including the deaths of American citizens. The procedural vote was the latest sign of friction between US Democrats and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government over Israel's treatment of Palestinians and of Republicans' continuing strong support for his coalition." |
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| 5. Israel's Netanyahu, at UN, calls accusations of genocide in Gaza 'the biggest lie of the century' Associated Press "Lashing out at his country’s critics, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu angrily dismissed allegations of Israeli genocide in Gaza as 'the biggest lie of the century' in a defiant speech to the U.N. General Assembly that asserted his nation’s right to wage war against Iran. Scores of delegates trooped out of the hall in protest. Netanyahu addressed the plenum after days of speeches by world leaders condemning Israel’s war in Gaza and accusing him of orchestrating a genocide against the Palestinian people. At times, the Israeli leader, facing a tough race for re-election next month, became emotional and indignant as he lectured his critics, among them New York’s mayor." |
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| | 6. Abbas pledges first Palestinian parliamentary vote in 20 years as doubts mount Reuters "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed plans to hold legislative elections on November 28, the first such vote in 20 years despite serious domestic doubts it will go ahead, as he seeks to advance internationally backed reforms. Abbas, 90, used a pre-recorded video address to the UN General Assembly to condemn US restrictions on the Palestinian delegation's access to UN headquarters, calling them a breach of Washington's obligations as host nation." |
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| 7. Pakistan vows to defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthis by 'whatever means' Associated Press "Pakistan will use 'whatever means are available' to defend Saudi Arabia against Iran-backed Houthi rebels, the country’s defense minister said Tuesday, offering one of Islamabad’s clearest indications yet that it could become directly involved in the widening regional conflict. Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif declined to say whether Pakistani forces had already participated in airstrikes. He said, however, that Pakistan’s military capabilities would be available to Saudi Arabia under a new mutual defense pact with Saudi Arabia and Turkey." |
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| 8. What to Know About Hegseth’s New Office of Religious Affairs Mother Jones Daily "On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new entity within the Pentagon: the Office of Religious Affairs. The office, Hegseth promised the assembled troops in Quantico, Virginia, would 'report straight to the top. No staff filters, no bureaucratic dilution, a direct line to the secretary.' Chaplains would 'finally have an advocate at the highest levels.' What’s more, 'policy and resources will serve the mission, not smother the mission.'" |
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| | Sep 28, 2026: CMEP Joins Humanitarian Organizations in releasing Humanitarian Access Snapshot #14 Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) has joined national and international humanitarian organizations in signing a new snapshot documenting the increasingly difficult operating environment facing humanitarian organizations and Palestinian communities across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The snapshot, based on a survey of 29 international and national NGOs conducted in September 2026 and covering the preceding six months, documents the growing humanitarian needs and increasingly constrained ability of organizations to provide assistance. While the survey does not represent every NGO operating in the West Bank, its findings underscore the persistent and worsening challenges facing Palestinian communities and those seeking to serve them. |
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| August 28, 2026: The Water of Life In this article for the Do Justice blog of the Christian Reformed Church, CMEP Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, considers water as both a biblical symbol of life and a basic human necessity, drawing a connection between Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman and the devastating water crisis in Gaza. She reflects on the Christian call to provide water to those who are thirsty and to pursue the peace, justice, and rebuilding necessary for sustainable access to water for Palestinians and Israelis alike. |
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| October 25: 2026 Peace Sunday Offering for Churches for Middle East Peace As we look forward to this year’s 40th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Peace on October 27th, we join Pope Leo XIV and Christians around the world in renewing the call offered by St. John Paul II at Assisi in 1986 and reaffirmed by Pope Francis in 2023: to reject violence, uphold human dignity, and pursue a just and lasting peace.
In the spirit of this global effort, Churches for Peace in the Middle East invite Christian churches throughout the United States to come together on Sunday, October 25th to participate in a national Giving Sunday. On this day, we ask U.S. churches to commit a portion of their daily collection or a special offering to the cause of our educating, elevating, and advocating for peace and make a one-time donation from this offering to Churches for Peace in the Middle East. Learn more and sign-up to give. |
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| | October 18: Adult Ed at Westmoreland Congregational (Bethesda, MD) with CMEP's Kyle Cristofalo Join Kyle Cristofalo, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) senior director of advocacy and government relations, for a conversation centering the question: How can Christians in the U.S. seek to faithfully bear witness and respond to the crises we see unfolding across the Holy Land today? Attendees will hear updates on the current realities on the ground across the Middle East, and how CMEP and its coalition partners have sought to respond here in the U.S. Audiences will also engage in questions and conversation, seeking to reflect on the ways the Gospel calls us to stand with the oppressed. (Psalm 146:7-9) |
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| October 23: Peace by Piece: Stories of Fair Trade and Faithfulness in the Holy Land In celebration of Fair Trade Month, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and SERRV International on October 23, to hear from two "Peace by Piece" artisan-leaders in Holy Land and learn about the stories behind their work. Suzan Sahori, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, Hadas Lahav, CEO of Sindyanna of Galilee, and Mohammed Joudeh, a Palestinian olive producer, will share how fair trade supports local producers and how the current climate is affecting their livelihoods – including ongoing economic challenges, movement restrictions, and the impacts of settler attacks. Co-moderated by CMEP's Destiny Magnett and SERRV's Serena Sato, the conversation will explore also how communities abroad can support these leaders and their communities through the Peace by Piece project partnership and beyond. |
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| October 30-November 1, 2026: CMEP Presbyterian Advisory Council in Louisville Join the Presbyterian Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) for an informative slate of events in Louisville, KY between October 30-November 1. Events will include robust discussions of the current context in Palestine and Israel, countering narratives of Christian Zionism, and concrete ways for communities to engage in initiatives that support just peace in the region. See our full slate of public events and register. |
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| 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. Use code CMEP for $30 off! |
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| 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! |
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| | Recording: Christian-Muslim Cooperation for Palestinian Human Rights On September 22, 2026, CMEP executive director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon joined Dr. Safi Kaskas, president of the International Qur'an Research Association (IQRA), for a webinar exploring ways Christians and Muslims can work side-by-side to pursue a just future for the Holy Land, working beyond mere dialogue and toward meaningful engagement and action. As Dr. Kaskas noted, this kind of interfaith collaboration is not only political– but also spiritual– as both Christians and Muslims seek to honor the dignity and worth of all people. |
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| Sept, 29, 20206: CMEP Delegation Briefing: Reflections from the Middle East & Armenia On September 29th Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) hosted a special public briefing with members of our recent delegation trip through the Middle East and Armenia. Countries visited in the trip include Egypt, Jordan, Israel-Palestine, and Armenia. The delegation traveled across the region to strengthen relationships with Christian leaders and local partners, engage with communities, and gain a deeper understanding of the political, humanitarian, and religious realities shaping the region. During this Zoom briefing, members of the delegation shared reflections from their travels, including who they met with, the churches and organizations they visited, key conversations and insights from the trip, and the what stayed with them from the journey. The briefing also highlighted CMEP's ongoing work to support Christian communities, strengthen ecumenical partnerships, and advance peace and justice throughout the Middle East.
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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 [email protected] |
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