 | November 6th News Bulletin Here’s what’s upcoming and what you may have missed at CMEP and in the news. |
| | 1. What Trump’s midterms setback could mean for Iran, Israel and Ukraine CNN "The US midterm elections could have consequences far beyond the country’s borders. President Donald Trump has spent nearly two years overturning decades of American foreign policy, unsettling allies and adversaries alike. Now, both are watching to see how an electoral setback at home will shape his actions abroad. For Iran, Israel and Ukraine, the stakes go well beyond who controls Congress. The result could influence whether Trump pursues a deal with Tehran or more war, how much Washington’s longstanding support for Israel erodes, and how hard he pushes Kyiv to accept terms to end Russia’s war." |
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| 2. Iran, Qatari mediators hold third day of talks to end US-Iran war Reuters "Iranian negotiators were in Doha on Sunday for a third consecutive day of talks with Qatari mediators aimed at pushing for a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran, an official briefed on the discussions told Reuters. The talks come amid concerns that the conflict could escalate again after the November 3 US midterm elections. President Donald Trump has said the United States will not launch new attacks on Iran before the vote and that talks with Tehran have been productive, though he has not ruled out further military action afterwards." |
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| 3. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill eight including child, hospitals say BBC "Israeli strikes in Gaza have killed at least eight people, including a child, according to hospitals, despite a year-old ceasefire. In Gaza City to the north, hospital officials said a missile attack hit a group of civilians next to Cairo School in the Al-Rimal neighbourhood, killing three people, including a four-year-old boy. In the southern city of Khan Younis, the Hamas-run ministry of interior said a drone attack targeted a group of police officers in the Al-Mawasi area, killing five, as they were carrying out their routine duties." |
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| 4. Herzog warns Israeli leadership of escalating violence in West Bank, says it may lead to civil war Jerusalem Post "Nationalistic violence in the West Bank could escalate and be dangerous, President Isaac Herzog said in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Council Adviser Shmuel Ben Ezra on October 8. In the letter, obtained by The Jerusalem Post and circulated in recent days to IDF General Staff senior officers, the attorney-general, and the foreign minister, he warned that continued violence could lead to a deadly confrontation between security forces and Israeli civilians, potentially triggering a civil war." |
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| 5. Jordan stops armed group from attempting to enter from Syria, armed forces say Reuters "Jordanian border guards stopped a group of 14 armed individuals attempting to cross into the country from Syria, state news agency Petra quoted the armed forces as saying on Saturday.
They tried to infiltrate on Friday under heavy fire and direct engagement, causing numerous casualties among the group. Some fled back into Syria, the armed forces said." |
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| | 6. Syria, Saudi Arabia sign defence cooperation deal, agree $403m in loans Al Jazeera "Syria’s President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have overseen the signing of several agreements, including a defence cooperation deal, and more than $403m in Saudi loans for Syria’s energy, housing, health and infrastructure sectors. The agreements were signed on Wednesday, during al-Sharaa’s second visit to Riyadh in less than a month. Syria’s Foreign Ministry called the cooperation agreement between the two countries’ defence ministries the “most notable” of the deals. But it did not disclose the terms." |
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| 7. Israel’s Herzog accepts vote results, opens talks on forming a government Al Jazeera "Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has accepted the certified results of last week’s parliamentary elections and begun consultations with party leaders on whom to task with forming the next government. The moves on Wednesday dealt a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s efforts to discredit the vote, in which he and his allies lost their majority in the 120-member parliament, while Arab-led parties made historic gains." |
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| Add Your Name in Support of the Global Christian Declaration: An Urgent Call for Equality, Peace, and Justice, and the Future of Christianity in the Middle East Over 200 Global Christian Bishops and Executive Leaders signed onto the Global Christian Declaration: An Urgent Call for Equality, Peace, and Justice, and the Future of Christianity in the Middle East. The letter writers "urge leaders to end violence through proactive, sustained diplomacy; ensure unhindered humanitarian assistance and access to daily needs; protect places of worship and vulnerable communities; and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law without exception." We invite you to add your support to the letter. The full text can be found below. |
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| November 3, 2026: The Middle East is losing its Christians: We can’t look away In a new op-ed published by Religion News Service (RNS), CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon reflects on the urgent threat facing Christian communities across the Middle East. Drawing on her recent travels in the region and the Global Christian Declaration organized by CMEP and signed by more than 200 Christian bishops and leaders worldwide, Rev. Dr. Cannon calls on churches, governments, and people of faith to act to protect the historic Christian presence in the birthplace of Christianity and work toward a future rooted in justice, dignity, and peace for all. |
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| November 3, 2026: P4P Blog: On the road going down from Zababdeh In this essay, CMEP Ambassador Warren Clark Fellow Dr. Andrew Wickersham shares the story of Palestinian priest Fr. Firas Khoury and the growing dangers facing Christian communities in the occupied West Bank. Through Fr. Khoury’s experiences traveling between Zababdeh and Jenin to provide pastoral care, the article highlights the daily realities of military restrictions, settler violence, and the struggle of Palestinian Christians to remain rooted in their ancestral homeland. |
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| October 29, 2026: In New Declaration, Over 200 Bishops, Leaders Warn of Christian Disappearance from Middle East Led by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), over 200 prominent Christian bishops and executive leaders from a wide range of denominations have signed on to a new declaration warning of the dangerously deteriorating situation for Christian communities in Palestine, Lebanon, and across the Middle East. Marking the 40th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Global Day of Prayer for Peace at Assisi, the declaration, organized by Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), warns of “the rapid decline of Christian communities throughout the region". |
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| Advent 2026: Cradle of Our Faith: A Devotional Series Inspired by the Christian Communities of the Middle East This Advent season, join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) on a journey through the Holy Land and the wider Middle East with a devotional series exploring the region's rich Christian heritage, living communities, and enduring hope for peace. Through original artwork, scripture, prayer, and reflection, each day invites us to connect the story of Christ's coming with the realities facing communities in Armenia, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Palestine today. Whether used for personal reflection or small groups, this devotional offers a meaningful way to prepare our hearts for Christ while holding the people of the region in prayer. Purchase a hard copy or download a virtual copy today to journey with us this Advent. A coloring book featuring the series' original artwork by Kester Limner is also available for download here. |
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| | November 10: CAC Fall Webinar: Catholic Education in the Holy Land Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and its Catholic Advisory Council on November 10 at 12:00 PM Eastern for a conversation exploring the role of Catholic education in the Holy Land. Featuring Br. Daoud Kassabry, PhD, Director of the Pedagogical Center of Brothers Schools in the Holy Land, and Fr. Dennis Woerter, OP, this webinar will examine the opportunities and challenges facing Catholic schools in the region, their role in sustaining Christian communities, and the ways education can foster peace and understanding across religious divides. Together, we will consider how the global Catholic community can support students, educators, and schools in the Holy Land as they navigate an increasingly uncertain future. |
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| November 14: Not in Christ's Name– An Orthodox Christian Summit for Palestine Churches for Middle East Peace is grateful to elevate the November 14th "Not in Christ's Name" Summit, led by our organizational partners, Orthodox Christians for Palestine. Orthodox Christians from every jurisdiction, along with those who share concern for justice and peace, are invited to gather for a one-day summit on Palestine. As the suffering, ongoing persecution, and displacement of our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land persists, we believe our Orthodox community and all people of conscience are called to respond. This summit brings our communities together to learn how we can put our faith into action. Inaction is not an option. ALL ARE WELCOME, including those new to the Orthodox faith and those from other faith traditions. |
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| November 17: And So How Shall We Live? Palestine, Israel, & Catholic Social Teaching How should Catholics think about Israel-Palestine? How can our faith guide us? Join the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace for the final session of its Fall webinar series with a conversation with Jordan Denari Duffner, PhD and Julie Schumacher Cohen on their new book "Israel, Palestine, and Catholic Social Teaching" (Orbis, 2026). The book draws on the principles of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) to help Catholics look anew at the Holy Land and envision how each of us can contribute to a just and peaceful future there. The book explores key ideas from CST like human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity, while also introducing readers to the difficult history of the region, its present-day realities, and its connections to policies and controversies in the United States. |
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| December 9, 2026: A Sacred Remembrance: Bearing Witness, Preventing Genocide Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) on December 9th for a prayer vigil recognizing the United Nations’ International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of This Crime. CMEP Heads of Communion and other Christian leaders are coming together in prayer, across theological and political differences, to commemorate and honor the victims of genocide throughout history and around the world, including, but not limited to, the genocides of Indigenous peoples in the United States and across the Americas, the Armenian Genocide, the Holocaust, the atrocities against Palestinians in Gaza, and the violence targeting the Banyamulenge people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This vigil will be a time of prayer, remembrance, and solidarity as we reflect on the enduring legacy of faith and resilience in the face of injustice. Together, we remember those who have suffered, mourn the lives lost, and reaffirm our shared commitment to preventing genocide and upholding the dignity and sacred worth of every human life. |
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| April 19-21 Christian Advocacy Summit for Just Peace in Palestine The Christian Advocacy Summit team is thrilled to announce our first keynote speaker for April's summit will be H.E. Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land. You can read more about Bishop Haddad's ministry and leadership, and get your summit tickets at summitforpeace.org. We hope to see you in DC April 19-21, 2027! |
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| | November 2: Spotlight on Taybeh: CAC Fall Webinar Session #1 On November 2nd, the Catholic Advisory Council of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) held its first installment of its Fall webinar series with Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, the parish priest of Christ The Redeemer church in Taybeh, West Bank. Often termed "the last remaining Christian village" in Palestine, Taybeh has faced significant violence from extremist settlers. Fr. Bashar emphasized the role of Faith in upholding courage, justice and human dignity. He also spoke about how the grim reality of occupation has caused the Christian community in Palestine to dwindle. Despite the challenges facing Palestinian Christians, Christian institutions are holding steadfast, supporting the broader Palestinian community in face of the crisis. He called for the Palestinian Christians to be spoken and advocated for throughout the year. |
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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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