Churches for Middle East Peace promotes a comprehensive resolution to conflicts in the Middle East. How is this goal achieved? CMEP mobilizes Christians in the United States to advocate equality, human rights, security, and justice for Israelis, Palestinians, and all people of the Middle East. These values are inherent to the Gospel and it is our mission to promote these values on the world stage.
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) provides opportunities to learn about the Middle East with a holistic approach to advocating for peace.
CMEP serves to elevate diverse voices who are advocating for equality, security, & human rights for all people in the Middle East.
Advocate for just U.S. policies in the Middle East by contacting members of Congress, participating in Government meetings, & attending Advocacy Summits.
See how CMEP Educates, Elevates, and Advocates for justice and peace in the Middle East.
Learn about some of the issues facing the Middle East–both the background and current realities.
The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places on the planet. It is home to more than two million Palestinians living within a stretch of territory 32 miles long by seven miles wide. Since 1967, this territory has been under Israeli military occupation. Read More
The economic situation in the West Bank and Gaza remains dire. As of 2018, unemployment in the West Bank stands at 19 percent and unemployment in the Gaza Strip hovers around a staggering 41 percent. The Palestinian Authority (PA), which was created as a transitional government under the Oslo Accords in 1995, faces a severe debt crisis with an annual budget deficit of $1 billion. Read More
After years of terrorism and war, many countries in the Middle East are ill-prepared for a global pandemic. Carla Khijoyan, the Programme Executive for the Middle East at the World Council of Churches, joins host Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon to discuss how the Arab world is responding to the novel coronavirus, and provides insight for how Christians can help those in need on the other side of the globe. Read More
Egypt has a rich history of religious diversity from the Jewish scholars of ancient Alexandria, to the pioneering Coptic Christian monks of the Middle Ages, to the Islamic legal experts at Cairo’s al-Azhar University today. However, since the beginning of Arab Spring in 2011, Egypt’s religious diversity has increasingly come under pressure. Read More
Since the West Bank is a part of the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and has not been annexed by Israel, all criminal cases there–including those involving juveniles–fall under the jurisdiction of Israeli military law. In principle, military courts comply with the obligations of an occupying power under international law. Read More
The iconic black water tanks on Palestinian roofs are the most visible symbol of the Palestinian water insecurity. These tanks store water in homes, many of which aren’t connected to public water mains. As of 2015, the water available for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is well below the World Health Organization’s recommended 100 liters per person per day. Read More
The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict is quickly approaching its one hundredth year. It is a conflict of both regional and international importance involving Israel, the Palestinians, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, the United States, the nations of the Arabian Peninsula, and the European Union. Read More
Known in Hebrew as Yerushalayim and in Arabic as al-Quds, Jerusalem’s multi-religious landscape includes the sacred sites of the three major Abrahamic religions–Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. But attempts to claim exclusive right to the city have resulted in generations of conflict. Read More
Stand in the G.A.P. with CMEP: We are grieved by the war between Israel and Hamas. There is still work to do for peace and justice. We believe that working together: justice can prevail. Peace is possible. Since October 7, CMEP has issued many public statements and letters. CMEP Executive Director Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon has been making daily update videos, which you can watch here to stay updated on pressing news in Gaza, Israel, and the West Bank. Here are some ways you can get involved.
Read the Stand in the G.A.P. Report to learn more about the efforts of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) since October 7, 2023.
This publication includes information about what has occurred since October 7th, 2023, as well as events that have been confirmed but not yet completed as of December 1st, 2023.
While we continue to cry out for a ceasefire and pursue peace we want to say thank you for the support and increased engagement from so many.
*A full Annual Report of CMEP’s 2022-23 program year can be anticipated in the first quarter of 2024.
Keep up with recent news, our press releases, and our public statements.
We invite you to support Churches for Middle East Peace in furthering advocacy for Israeli-Palestinian peace by making a donation today!
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