November 29th News Bulletin

 A ceasefire between Israel and Iran-backed group Hezbollah took effect at 02:00 GMT

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire begins after year of conflict

BBC

“A ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah has come into effect in Lebanon after more than a year of fighting. It began at 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) on Wednesday, putting an at-least temporary end to nearly 14 months of conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group. The deal was announced on Tuesday evening by Israel, France and the US, with President Joe Biden saying it aimed to be a "permanent cessation of hostilities".

Civil defense members work as Lebanese army soldiers stand guard at the site of an Israeli strike in the Basta neighborhood of Beirut, Lebanon, on November 23, 2024. Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Dozens killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, including 29 in central Beirut

CNN

“Dozens of people have been killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon this weekend, including 29 who died after an attack flattened a multi-story residential building in central Beirut, according to Lebanese officials. In the densely populated Basta area of the Lebanese capital, rescue workers were Saturday searching for survivors under the rubble after the attack featuring what the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said were “bunker-busting” bombs.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a ceremony for the 70th cohort of military combat officers, at an army base near Mitzpe Ramon, Israel, October 31, 2024. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo

Israel has told ICC it will appeal against arrest warrants, Netanyahu says

Reuters

“Israel has informed the International Criminal Court that it will appeal against arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defence minister Yoav Gallant over their conduct of the Gaza war, Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday. Netanyahu also said that U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had updated him "on a series of measures he is promoting in the U.S. Congress against the International Criminal Court and against countries that would cooperate with it", Netanyahu said.”

An IDF soldier walks among Haredi Jewish men during a protest against a potential new draft law that could end their exemptions from military service in Jerusalem, October 31, 2024. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)

IDF issued over 1,000 ‘arrest warrants’ to ultra-Orthodox who ignored draft orders, says officer

Times of Israel

“After issuing 3,000 draft orders to members of the ultra-Orthodox community over the summer, the IDF has issued 1,126 “arrest warrants” to those who did not show up to the induction centers, a senior officer tells lawmakers. “Of the 3,000 ultra-Orthodox who received [draft] orders, 1,126 were issued arrest warrants for those who did not report to the first and second orders,” says Brig. Gen. Shay Taib, head of the Personnel Directorate’s Planning and Personnel Management Division, during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee meeting.”

CMEP Action Alert

During the Advent season (through Orthodox Christmas) Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and other partners are joining together to call for a suspension of arms sales to Israel and push for a comprehensive permanent ceasefire and an end to all violence. As Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank continue to suffer under the Israeli military aggression, the United States must end its active participation in the ongoing violence by halting all arms sales to Israel.

As Christians prepare for the season of Advent where we celebrate the Prince of Peace, please consider joining CMEP in our Advent not Arms campaign. Make your voices heard today by letting your members of Congress you want the U.S. government to prioritize peace and an end to violence over continuing to supply weapons that will cause further death and destruction.

CMEP Sponsors Take a Stand for the Holy Land Campaign

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is co-sponsoring the Take a Stand for the Holy Land Campaign alongside the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (PCAP) and Friends of Sabeel North America. This campaign was created to call attention to Israel’s confiscation of Christian and Muslim property and escalation of violence against Palestinians. The campaign is also endorsed by sixteen organizations, including groups from nine major US denominations as per the latest press release. Take a Stand for the Holy Land aims to increase awareness among American Christians on the land left and persecution facing the Palestinian Christian community.

Advent not Arms

Join Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) and other partners this Advent season (through Orthodox Christmas) as we call for a suspension of arms sales to Israel and push for a comprehensive permanent ceasefire and end to all violence. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we invite you to journey with us in advocating of an holy season of peace through our campaign Advent Not Arms. Throughout the next several weeks we will provide multifaceted resources and events including a virtual and in person Advent vigils for peace, ways to reach out to your elected officials, and more as we continue to  pursue peace for all in Israel/Palestine, Lebanon, and all in the region. For more information and to contact your members of Congress click the link below.

Support CMEP on Giving Tuesday

As we approach #GivingTuesday on December 3rd, we invite you to join a global movement of generosity and consider supporting Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Like many nonprofits, CMEP relies on year-end giving for the majority of our funding—70% comes in during this critical time. Your generosity helps us advocate for holistic peace and justice in the Middle East, empowering churches, individuals, and leaders to take meaningful action. This Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to be part of the movement, supporting efforts that create lasting change. Let’s continue to have the courage to pay attention and take action. Click here to give today!

A Peace & Reconciliation Conference Series Jesus/Eisa & the Qur'an

This educational conference is inspired by the fact that Jesus (Eisa in The Quran) holds a unique and revered position in both Islam and Christianity. It aims to explore Jesus and his teachings, focusing on his principles rather than doctrinal differences. By doing so, we seek to foster understanding, reconciliation, and collaboration between Muslim and Christian communities.

The dates for this educational conference are December 13-15, 2024. The conference will be hybrid, conducted online to support global participation and in-person in Washington D.C. to support in-depth engagement amongst U.S. Government influencers and decision-makers. The core of the conference consists of three two-hour sessions of expert speakers conducted in a time frame that allows all participants to connect simultaneously from time zones around the world: 11AM-1PM EST, 8AM-10AM PST, 8PM-10PM PKT (Pakistan).

There will be an in-person gathering as part of the online-conference on Friday December 13th, 10:30AM – 1:30PM at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 (Conference Room 401-F). The room capacity is 40 people, so please let us know upon registration if you would like to attend the local gathering. Seats will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

Call to Prayer Preceding the Tent of Nations December 18th Court Date

As the Tent of Nations court date approaches on December 18th, we call our community to join us in sustained and ongoing prayer for the land, the Nassar family, and for justice to finally be done. We will pray together for the Nassar's each Wednesday during our community prayer time on Zoom and also ask that you include this case in your individual daily prayers, Sunday prayers of the people during worship, and in other communities of faithful solidarity. 

A view shows damaged cars at the Lebanese-Syrian border crossing of Arida following an Israeli strike that occurred late on Tuesday, Lebanon November 27, 2024. REUTERS/Omar Ibrahim

Israel attacks north Lebanon crossings with Syria for first time, minister says

Reuters

“Israel late on Tuesday attacked Lebanon's three northern border crossings with Syria for the first time, Lebanon's transport minister Ali Hamieh told Reuters. The strikes took place after U.S. President Joe Biden announced that a ceasefire would come into effect at 4:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Wednesday to halt hostilities between Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Israel. The Israeli military said its warplanes attacked several transport hubs between Syria and Lebanon that were used to send combat equipment to Hezbollah.”

A Palestinian man secures his tent as storm clouds loom over a displacement camp on the beach in Deir el-Balah on November 26, 2024 [Abdel Kareem Hana/AP Photo]

Hell and high water: Gaza waits for a ceasefire of its own

Al-Jazeera

“Families in the rain-soaked devastation of Gaza describe watching the news of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon with feelings of relief, hope and, for some, the sense of having been entirely abandoned. A general frustration has settled on the central city of Deir el-Balah, where people are exhausted from nearly 14 months of relentless Israeli assault. Several people who spoke to Al Jazeera on Wednesday said that while they were pleased for their “brothers in Lebanon for reaching a truce”, they are waiting for their own truce. The people in Gaza, they said, have endured hundreds of times more than what they can bear.”

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a dinner with U.S. service members and their families ahead of Thanksgiving at U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York on Staten Island, New York, U.S., November 25, 2024. REUTERS/Nathan Howard/File Photo

Biden administration advancing $680 million arms sale to Israel, source says

Reuters

“The Biden administration is pushing ahead with a $680 million arms sales package to Israel, a U.S. official familiar with the plan said on Wednesday, even as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah has come into effect.The package, which was first reported by the Financial Times, includes thousands of joint direct attack munition kits (JDAMs) and hundreds of small-diameter bombs, according to the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.”

CMEP's ED, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, had the privilege of hosting a delegation to Egypt with the South African Council of Churches and CEOSS. They met with His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the 118th Coptic pope of Alexandria and patriarch of the see of St. Mark. 

CMEP Congratulates His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on the 12th anniversary of His Ascension to the Throne of St. Mark

Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), extended heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II on the 12th anniversary of his ascension to the throne of St. Mark. She commended his steadfast leadership, spiritual wisdom, and dedication to promoting peace, unity, and justice, which have inspired both the Coptic Church and the global community.

Dr. Cannon highlighted the Coptic Church’s resilience and witness to the Gospel, especially in the face of adversity, and expressed gratitude for Pope Tawadros’s efforts in fostering interfaith dialogue and reconciliation. She affirmed CMEP's commitment to working alongside the Coptic Church in pursuing peace and justice in the Middle East and conveyed prayers for God’s continued blessings on the Pope and the Church.

Mini-Series #5 Holding on in the Dark: Spotlight on the Case for The Armenian Quarter

On Tuesday, Nov. 19th, as part of the final installment of CMEP's Holding on in the Dark mini webinar series, CMEP explored the case of the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. The Armenian Quarter is part of the Old City and is within Occupied East Jerusalem. This Quarter, home to around 2000 Armenians, has been under threat. In April of 2023, a deal was signed between the Armenian Patriarchate and an Israeli firm called Xana Capital, which sent shockwaves through the Armenian population worldwide. Around 25% of the historic quarter would be leased for 99 years to the company to build a hotel on. This deal was made without the consent of the quarter's residents and fueled fears of displacement. Since then, the Patriarchate has tried to backtrack on the deal, taking it to the Israeli courts, saying that they were misled by Xana Capital on the conditions. As a result, Israeli settlers have begun to attack and intimidate the Armenians living there periodically. CMEP was joined by Malkon Marizian, an Armenian Palestinian living in Jerusalem who told us about the trouble facing the Armenian Quarter today and what we can do to support the local Armenians there.  

Jordan Duffner as a member of CMEP’s Catholic Advisory Council Jordan was recently interviewed on the Across the Divides podcast with Daniel Bannoura. In this episode, Daniel engages in a conversation with Jordan Denari Duffner, a Catholic public theologian, author, and educator. They discuss the work Duffner has been doing since October 7, including a sign-on letter she co-authored from U.S. Catholics on Israel-Palestine. They also delve into another article she co-authored to help Catholics better understand the situation in Gaza, Israel, and Palestine. A significant portion of the discussion is dedicated to Catholic Social Teaching. 

Jordan will also be a part of a Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought Public Life event coming up next Monday Nov 18 "Blessed are the Peacemakers" which can be accessed online or in person. 

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