Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), alongside dozens of international aid and development agencies, released its latest Humanitarian Access Snapshot, covering the period from January 19 to April 15, 2025. The report offers a sobering update on the continued restrictions on humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank amidst ongoing conflict and military operations.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, led a small interfaith delegation of Christian and Muslim leaders to Jordan between April 9-10, 2025. His Excellency Bishop Mpumlwana Malusi, the former General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), and Imam Dr. Yahya Hendi, Director of Muslim Life at Georgetown University, joined Rev. Dr. Cannon as they met with high-level political and religious leaders to discuss the most recent events in the region with an emphasis on what can be done to end the war on Gaza. In addition to meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Safadi and other leaders, the delegation was honored to participate in a gathering with the Nobel Women’s Initiative hosted by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal.

Churches for Middle East Peace’s (CMEP) executive director, Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, led a small interfaith delegation of Christian and Islamic leaders to Egypt between April 5-8, 2025. Meetings in Egypt included conversations with religious and political leaders for the purpose of discussing the role international religious leaders can play in calling for an end to all violence, especially the devastating toll of ongoing bombing and military incursions by the Israeli military in Gaza and the West Bank.

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) stands in solidarity with the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem and their defense of the Armenian Patriarchate. The Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem faces a foreclosure order posing a significant threat to their ongoing sustainability. As the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches note, “This action undermines the freedom of religion, which is the foundation of all other rights, since through a confiscation of assets, attempts to the right of existence of the Orthodox Armenian Church, depriving it of the necessary economic resources to live and operate and depriving the local Armenian people of the pastoral care of their Church.” The threat against the Armenian Patriarchate reflects a broader challenge facing the Christian community in Jerusalem relating to taxation issues. CMEP remains committed to advocate for the continued sustainability of the churches in Jerusalem whose presence and ministry provide vital services to the greater community.   Press Release February 20th, 2025