 |  | November 1st News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. | | | | 1. Inside Gaza, BBC sees total devastation after two years of war BBC "From an embankment overlooking Gaza City, there's no hiding what this war has done. The Gaza of maps and memories is gone, replaced by a monochrome landscape of rubble stretching flat and still for 180 degrees, from Beit Hanoun on one side to Gaza City on the other. Beyond the distant shapes of buildings still standing inside Gaza City, there's almost nothing left to orient you here, or identify the neighbourhoods that once held tens of thousands of people." | | | | | | 2. Israel’s top military lawyer arrested after she admitted leaking video of soldiers’ abuse The Guardian "Police in Israel have arrested and detained the military’s top legal officer after she admitted leaking footage of soldiers allegedly attacking a Palestinian detainee and then in effect lying about her actions to Israel’s high court. The military advocate general, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, said in a resignation letter last week that she had authorised publication of the video to defuse attacks on military investigators and prosecutors working on the case." | | | | | | 3. Israel receives body of another hostage as Palestinian deaths reported in Gaza Reuters "Israel received the remains of another hostage from Gaza on Wednesday, the prime minister's office said, after Hamas' armed wing transferred a body found near Gaza City to the Red Cross. Israel's forensics authority will confirm the identity of the remains, the office said. If proven to belong to a hostage, there would be six remaining deceased hostages in Gaza." | | | | | | 4. Israel sets up checkpoint in Syria’s Quneitra in new breach of sovereignty Al-Jazeera "Israel’s army has renewed its incursions into Syria, setting up a checkpoint in the southern province of Quneitra, according to local media, as it continues daily attacks, destabilises its neighbours and occupies and assaults Palestine. State news agency SANA reported that two tanks and four military vehicles entered the town of Jabata al-Khashab in the Quneitra countryside on Wednesday, setting up the military post on the road leading to the village of Ain al-Bayda." | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | | From CMEP's Own: Ending the Gaza Atrocities in Pursuit of Justice and Peace Christians for Social Action "Israelis and Palestinians have been in conflict for much of the 20th century. The late 19th-century influx of tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants to historic Palestine came as many fled antisemitism and rejection around the world. The Jewish Zionist movement sought to establish a homeland in what religious Jews believed to be historic Israel — a land tied to their ancient faith and identity." This Piece was written by CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon. | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | Interfaith leaders call on Trump administration to bolster Israel-Hamas ceasefire in CMEP organized Multi-Faith Letter Baptist News Global "Scores of Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in 20 countries have urged the Trump administration to bolster the fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid flows to civilians still suffering from two years of war. Churches for Middle East Peace sent U.S. President Donald Trump a letter Nov. 3 demanding both side of the conflict be held accountable for injustices committed after Hamas invaded Israel in October 2023. “For too long, violence, oppression and displacement have brought immeasurable suffering to the peoples of this region,” according to the document signed by Alliance of Baptists co-Director Elijah Zehyoue, Sojourners founder Jim Wallis and nearly 130 bishops, pastors, rabbis, imams and other religious leaders from around the world." You can read Churches for Middle East Peace's Multi-Faith letter HERE and CMEP's cover letter to President Trump HERE. | | | | | | | | 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 13, 2025: Wounds That Don't Bleed: Lament and Compassion 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 November 13 at 12pm ET as Lamma Mansour discusses the idea of lament. Afterward, Nancy will lead us in a compassion practice. This will be the third 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 | | | | | | 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. Israel carries out wave of airstrikes on southern Lebanon The Guardian "The Israeli military has carried out a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon in what it described as an attempt to prevent Hezbollah rearming. Israeli warplanes struck the towns of Kfar Dounine, Tayr Debba and Zawtar al-Sharqiya on Thursday, about an hour after issuing evacuation warnings to residents. No deaths had been reported at the time of publishing. The attacks came despite a ceasefire deal signed between Hezbollah and Israel nearly a year ago that ended 13 months of fighting." | | | | | | 6. Dozens of Dems Urge Netanyahu Not to Raze West Bank Homes, Community Center Haaretz "Reps. Jamie Raskin, Jerrold Nadler, Jim Himes, Sara Jacobs, and Dan Goldman led a total of more than 100 of their colleagues in urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to immediately halt plans to demolish buildings, including private homes and a community center, in the West Bank village of Umm al-Kheir. "We are gravely concerned that any further actions by settlers, vigilantes or the government to destroy the village of Umm Al-Kheir will traumatize this peaceful community and jeopardize the prospect of long-term peace," the letter states." | | | | | | 7. Exclusive: Saudi Arabia's request to buy F-35 jets clears key Pentagon hurdle, sources say Reuters "The Trump administration is considering a Saudi Arabian request to buy as many as 48 F-35 fighter jets, a potential multi-billion-dollar deal that has cleared a key Pentagon hurdle ahead of a visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, two sources familiar with the matter said. A sale would mark a significant policy shift, potentially altering the military balance in the Middle East and testing Washington's definition of maintaining Israel's "qualitative military edge." | | | | | | 8. Kazakhstan, which already has relations with Israel, to join Abraham Accords Times of Israel "US President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the Central Asian, Muslim-majority country of Kazakhstan will be the first country to join the Abraham Accords in his second term. Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post that he said was published just after he wrapped up a phone call on the matter with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu." | | | | | | 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 | | | | | | | |
