Policy Positions
Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) is organized to educate and give witness to principles of peace and justice in the Middle East on behalf of its religious constituencies by advocating public policy positions that seek to:
1. Pursue a just and durable resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in which Israelis and Palestinians realize the vision of a just peace, which illuminates human dignity and cultivates thriving relationships.
2. Pursue an end to the Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, to promote a solution that advances security and self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians.
3. Recognize settlements as illegal and an impediment to peace and ensure accountability for policies about settlements which disregard legal restraints and international consensus. Oppose all unilateral annexations.
4. Promote a shared Jerusalem by Palestinians and Israelis, as well as full access to the Holy Sites of the three religious communities — Jews, Christians, and Muslims – by those who call them holy.
5. Promote restorative justice, trauma healing, and multi-level peacebuilding efforts with a particular recognition of the contribution and role of women.
6. In order to defend free speech and religious liberty, uphold the right of churches and organizations to find appropriate and various ways to end unjust practices and policies that violate international laws and conventions, including exerting economic leverage on commercial and government actors.
7. Support the right for engagement in nonviolent resistance while raising concerns about all forms of violence regardless of actor.
8. Recognize the religious importance of the Middle East to Jews, Christians, and Muslims and others; to protect the religious freedom of all as well as support measures to ensure the viability of the historic Christian community in Palestine, Israel, and the entire region.
9. Encourage negotiated, just, and peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region and the demilitarization of conflict.
10. Encourage needs and rights based development and humanitarian assistance to reduce inequality and promote human dignity, especially in the West Bank and Gaza while ensuring access and protection for aid agencies and others.
11. Respect for human rights of all in the region, including refugees and displaced people, based on full observance of the Geneva Conventions, relevant UN resolutions, and other international law agreements.
12. CMEP opposes anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, and anti-Islamic actions and all other forms of racism or bigotry in rhetoric or actions that dehumanize, stereotype, or incite distrust or violence toward anyone.
Approved at June 11, 2020 Board Meeting
