 |  | October 24th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Trump dismisses bid by some Israeli lawmakers to annex West Bank Reuters "U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed an effort by some Israeli lawmakers to push forward with annexation of the occupied West Bank, saying Israel is "not going to do anything with the West Bank."
A bill applying Israeli law to the West Bank, a move tantamount to annexation of a territory that Palestinians seek for part of a future independent state, won preliminary approval by Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday." | | | | | | 2. UN's top court says Israel obliged to allow UN aid into Gaza BBC "The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has said Israel has a legal obligation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip by the UN and its entities to ensure the basic needs of Palestinian civilians there are met. An advisory opinion from the UN's top court also said Israel had not substantiated its allegations that the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) lacked neutrality or that a significant number of its staff were members of Hamas or other armed groups." | | | | | | 3. Israel has violated ceasefire 47 times and killed 38 Palestinians, says Gaza media office The Guardian "Gaza’s media office has accused Israel of violating the ceasefire with Hamas 47 times since the truce came into effect in early October, killing 38 Palestinians and wounding another 143. “These violations have included crimes of direct gunfire against civilians, deliberate shelling and targeting, and the arrest of a number of civilians, reflecting the occupation’s continued policy of aggression despite the declared end of the war,” reads the statement." | | | | | | 4. Ten-year-old Palestinian boy shot dead by Israeli forces in West Bank BBC "A 10-year-old Palestinian boy has been killed by Israeli forces in a village south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank. The Israeli military says its soldiers opened fire on Thursday in response to "confrontations and rock-hurling" directed at them. Residents of al-Rihiya say that Muhammad al-Hallaq and his friends had been playing football in a local schoolyard when they saw Israeli military vehicles and began to run." | | | | | | | | Still Active: 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. | | | | | | | | October 17, 2025: Palestinian Americans Share Their Stories with Congress, Urge Them to Promote Lasting Peace and an End to the Occupation "As the fate of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza remains tenuous and uncertain, these Palestinian American families called on Congress and the Administration to ensure that the ceasefire does not just temporarily halt the fighting, but brings the occupation and destruction to a lasting end. The delegation, supported by the Arab American Institute, Churches for Middle East Peace, and American Friends Service Committee, called for Congress to take action to stop providing the Israeli government with American weapons that have been used to destroy Gaza and impose famine." | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | Call to Prayer Layan Nasir The cautious relief brought by news of a ceasefire deal for Gaza was shattered today with the devastating report that Palestinian activist Layan Nasir has been taken directly to prison following a court appearance. Layan and her family now face the pain of an additional eight-month sentence within Israel’s harsh prison system. The timing of this decision underscores the ongoing suffering and injustice faced by Palestinians, an unrelenting reality that persists even as hopes rise for peace in Gaza. | | | | | | From CMEP's Own: Armenian Jerusalemites Resist Judaization of their Old City Home "In the fall of 2023, a shady land deal signed a few years earlier between the Armenian Patriarchate and an Australian-Israeli businessman came to light. Despite the Patriarchate’s cancellation of the deal on Nov. 1, 2023, Israeli surveyors and settlers pushed ahead with their plans to develop the property into a luxury hotel and permanently alter the character and demography of the Old City’s Armenian Quarter. In this episode we speak with Armenian peacebuilder Christopher Huth, Communications Coordinator at the Churches for Middle East Peace office in Washington, DC about the history of the Armenian community in the Holy Land, and the grassroots and international efforts to resist this latest attempt by Israel at Judaizing occupied East Jerusalem, of which the Old City is a part." This podcast was done with KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Radio and is available on Spotify and Apple Podcast. | | | | | | October 20, 2025: 21Wilberforce Awards Churches for Middle East Peace the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award At a special recognition dinner held during the Global Religious Freedom Conference at Dallas Baptist University on October 20, 2025, the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Award was presented to Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). The award honors organizations advancing freedom of religion or belief around the world. Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, CMEP’s Executive Director, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. In presenting the honor, 21Wilberforce recognized CMEP’s decades-long commitment to promoting justice, equality, and human rights for all people in the Middle East through education, advocacy, and Christian peacemaking grounded in the values of faith and reconciliation. | | | | | | From CMEP's Own: Populism, Nationalism, and Civilizationism: Implications and Complications for Religious Freedom This paper, written by Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, provides a broad overview of the intersections between religious freedom, cultural populism, religious nationalism, and civilizationism. The manuscript offers both theoretical insights and empirical case studies, showcasing a global perspective that enriches current academic discourse, while identifying areas of further research needed to expand understanding of religious freedom and the rise of cultural populism and civilizationism in the 21st century. Studies of religious nationalism and populist civilizationism are in their early stages. There are opportunities for vastly greater areas of study, including the scope of scholarship, manifestations of civilizationism beyond Western contexts, and researching religions beyond Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to have a better understanding of the diversity of expressions of religious nationalism, civilizationism, and populism globally and across history. | | | | | | | | October 30, 2025: Wounds That Don't Bleed: Embodied Solidarity Many of our Palestinian sisters have experienced significant trauma and grief, given the system of oppression under which they live. However, most people do not understand trauma and the effects it has on daily functioning, or how to begin healing. In addition, most people do not know how to walk with someone through trauma. Join CMEP on October 30 at 12pm ET as Areej Masoud, Rev. Liz Walker, and Sandra van Opstal discuss embodied solidarity and the impact it has on Palestinians. This will be the first of a three part series. This webinar series seeks to begin educating women on trauma and its effects, while also equipping them with the tools to build resilience and walk in solidarity with those healing. 12:00 PM EDT - 1:00 PM EDT | | | | | | October 30, 2025: "The Cross and the Olive Tree: A Palestinian Christian Reflection" Featuring John Munayer CMEP is pleased to join our friends at the McClendon Scholar program at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in hosting Palestinian Christian theologian and author John Munayer. Munayer will give his perspective on what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank and discuss efforts to cultivate Palestinian theology amidst the current suffering. He will also discuss what concepts like hope, reconciliation, and martyrdom mean in the context of Palestinians' widespread agony. Thursday, October 30, at 7 pm EDT, either onsite or online. | | | | | | November 12, 2025: The Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J. Lecture Series 2025: Equality, Justice, & Peace — A Catholic Vision for Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine Today Join us November 12th at 12pm EST for a lecture that will focus on four elements in the Catholic Church’s position regarding Israel/Palestine: the welfare of the Christian community and the protection of the Holy Places; the
interpretation of the Scriptures as a resource for promoting equality, justice and peace; the dialogue with Jews and Muslims; and the commitment to a social teaching that insists on equality, justice and peace. | | | | | | NOVEMBER 15, 2025: Journeying Toward Justice in the Holy Land: Learning from Palestinian Christians and Peacemakers in the Holy Land Too many trips to the Holy Land miss the unjust realities of life under Israeli occupation and ignore the “living stones” – Palestinian Christians who are deeply rooted in the places we know well from ancient Bible stories including Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth. What would it be like to travel to Israel-Palestine today? What would we find? Whose stories would we hear? In this session, Julie Schumacher Cohen and Jordan Denari Duffner will take us on a journey into Israel-Palestine to help us understand the struggles and resilience of Palestinians and to walk with Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers who together seek a future ofequality and dignity for all. Sharing stories and photos from their own pilgrimages to the region, Julie and Jordan will also elevate the voices of Christians, Muslims, and Jews they’ve met. Both women are members of the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace, and were the co-authors of the 2024 “U.S. Catholic Sign-on Letter on Israel-Palestine.” | | | | | | 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. Palestinian woman in hospital after being clubbed by masked Israeli settler BBC "A 55-year-old Palestinian woman has been taken to hospital after being clubbed over the head by a masked Jewish settler as she was picking olives. The unprovoked attack, which took place on Sunday morning in the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the occupied West Bank, was captured on video by US journalist Jasper Nathaniel. Mr Nathaniel said the settler knocked the woman unconscious with his stick, before hitting her again as she lay on the ground. She has been named as Afaf Abu Alia, known locally as Umm Saleh." | | | | | | 6. Oldest hostage taken by Hamas among two deceased returned to Israel Tuesday CNN "The body of the oldest hostage taken by Hamas following its October 7, 2023 attacks was among two deceased hostages returned to Israel from Gaza on Tuesday. Arye Zalmanovich and Tamir Adar’s remains had been identified and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had informed their families, a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Tuesday night." | | | | | | 7. Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti assaulted by Israeli prison guards, son says The Guardian "Palestine’s most popular leader, Marwan Barghouti, was beaten unconscious by Israeli prison guards and his family fears for his life, his son has said, citing evidence given by former Palestinian detainees released this week as part of the ceasefire deal. Arab Barghouti said his 66-year-old father was assaulted by eight guards on 14 September as he was being transferred between Ganot and Megiddo prisons." | | | | | | 8. UN experts call for probe into Israeli ceasefire violations with Lebanon Al-Jazeera "A group of United Nations experts has voiced alarm about continued Israeli air and drone strikes in Lebanon, saying the attacks have caused mounting civilian casualties and widespread destruction despite a ceasefire agreed last November. “Despite the ceasefire, Israel continues to strike Lebanese territory almost daily,” the experts said in a statement on Friday, urging all parties to fully adhere to the cessation of hostilities and calling for investigations and accountability for all violations of international law." | | | | | | | | October 22, 2025: Virtual Vigil Lamenting Two Years of War in the Holy Land As we continue to bear witness to the suffering in Gaza and across the Middle East, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) held a Virtual Vigil of Lament. Together, we paused to reflect on the pain of the past two years in the Holy Land through prayer, reflection, and witness. Watch the Vigil Below. | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
