CMEP ADVOCACY CONFERENCE
JUNE 7-9, 2009

WASHINGTON, DC




 

~ WORKSHOPS ~

First Workshop Session: Morning (10:30-11:45 am)

1. Palestinian Christians: A Declining Community, An Imperative for Peace

Gregory Khalil, President and Co-Founder, The Kairos Project, Former Legal Advisor,
Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit
Moderator: Warren Clark, CMEP Executive Director
Location: Executive Boardroom

The indigenous Christian community in the Holy Land continues to dwindle due to the political and economic instability of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation. Gregory Khalil, a former Palestinian negotiator with family roots in Beit Sahour, will describe the challenges facing Palestinian Christians. Khalil will discuss effective ways to educate U.S. policymakers and the broader public about the ramifications of the further decline of the Holy Land’s historic Christian community in the absence of a two-state peace.


2. On the Ground in Gaza, the West Bank, and E. Jerusalem: A Humanitarian and Economic Update

Rev. Mark Brown, Regional Representative, Lutheran World Federation
LeAnn Hagar, Emergency Capacity Building Manager, Catholic Relief Services
Moderator: Martin Shupack, Associate Director for Public Policy at Church World Service; CMEP Board
Location: Room 2

The situation on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem must be urgently addressed if there is going to be progress toward peace. More than 80% of Gazans are now reliant on humanitarian aid even as the border crossings remain largely shut. In the West Bank food insecurity, unemployment, and school dropout rates are all on the rise. And in East Jerusalem, church institutions struggle to meet the needs of Palestinians in the face of housing shortages and movement restrictions. This workshop will provide you with a close-up look at pressing humanitarian and economic issues and outline key points for U.S. action.


3. Congress and Israeli-Palestinian Issues: Building Support for U.S. Engagement

Michael Hare, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Charles Boustany (R-LA)
Shai Tamari, Legislative Assistant for Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA)
Julie Schumacher Cohen, CMEP Deputy Director
Location: Room 4

This workshop will explore how Congress addresses Israeli-Palestinian issues, including the policy and politics behind Congressional action, and discuss effective ways that Members and advocates can build support for peace. Key Congressional initiatives and legislation related to the peace process will be discussed as well as the impact of increased cooperation among Christian, Jewish and Arab-American organizations in pressing for greater U.S. diplomatic engagement.
 

4. Engaging Christians in Grassroots Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

Charles P. Lutz CMEP Grassroots Advocacy Project Coordinator, Minnesota
Tom Quigley, CMEP Grassroots Advocacy Project Coordinator, Washington
Carolyn Danckaert, CMEP Field Director
Location: Tiered Classroom

Individuals seeking to engage more actively in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking can find it difficult to know where to begin and how to approach the complicated terrain. This workshop will explore useful models and tools for encouraging study and action both by individual advocates and congregations. The presenters will provide real-life grassroots organizing stories “from the field” and will encourage audience members to contribute their own to the discussion.
 

5. Human Rights in Israel and Palestine

Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Executive Director for Rabbis for Human Rights
Moderator: Rachelle Lyndaker Schlabach, Mennonite Central Committee; CMEP Board
Location: Room 6

Human rights violations are an every-day reality in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation. Rabbi Arik Ascherman will describe the work of Rabbis for Human Rights in Israel and the Palestinian territories and current issues on the ground, and will explore effective ways in which faith traditions can engage in human rights issues as a means to foster peace.
 

Second Workshop Session: Afternoon (2:30-4:00 pm)

1. Palestinian Christians: A Declining Community, An Imperative for Peace

Gregory Khalil, President and Co-Founder, The Kairos Project, Former Legal Advisor,
Palestinian Negotiations Support Unit
Moderator: Jim Fine, Legislative Secretary for Foreign Policy for FCNL; CMEP Board Chair
Location: Room 2

The indigenous Christian community in the Holy Land continues to dwindle due to the political and economic instability of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and occupation. Gregory Khalil, a former Palestinian negotiator with family roots in Beit Sahour, will describe the challenges facing Palestinian Christians. Khalil will discuss effective ways to educate U.S. policymakers and the broader public about the ramifications of the further decline of the Holy Land’s historic Christian community in the absence of a two-state peace.
 

2. On the Ground in Gaza, the West Bank, and E. Jerusalem: A Humanitarian and Economic Update

Rev. Mark Brown, Regional Representative, Lutheran World Federation
LeAnn Hagar Emergency Capacity Building Manager, Catholic Relief Services
Moderator: Rev. Susan Wilder, Director for Middle East Policy, ECLA; CMEP Board
Location: Room 6

The situation on the ground in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem must be urgently addressed if there is going to be progress toward peace. More than 80% of Gazans are now reliant on humanitarian aid even as the border crossings remain largely shut. In the West Bank food insecurity, unemployment, and school dropout rates are all on the rise. And in East Jerusalem, church institutions struggle to meet the needs of Palestinians in the face of housing shortages and movement restrictions. This workshop will provide you with a close-up look at pressing humanitarian and economic issues and outline key points for U.S. action.
 

3. Interethnic and Intergroup Cooperation: Building a Broad Constituency for Peace

Rebecca Abou-Chedid, National Policy Council Member, Arab American Institute
Deepa Domansky, Advocacy Coordinator and Washington Liasion, Brit Tzedek v’Shalom
Joel Rubin, Government Affairs Director, J Street
Moderator: Julie Schumacher Cohen, CMEP Deputy Director
Location: Room 4

The new opportunity for advocacy and peacemaking with the 111th Congress and Obama Administration has also coincided with the growing strength and influence of “pro-peace” organizations working in cooperation. CMEP and its Jewish and Arab allies are working together to build support on Capitol Hill for robust U.S. engagement for peace. This workshop will provide participants with an opportunity to hear from representatives from key organizations and explore continued avenues for collaboration.
 

4. Engaging Christians in Grassroots Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking

Charles P. Lutz, CMEP Grassroots Advocacy Project Coordinator, Minnesota
Tom Quigley, CMEP Grassroots Advocacy Project Coordinator, Washington
Carolyn Danckaert, CMEP Field Director
Location: Tiered Classroom

Individuals seeking to engage more actively in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking can find it difficult to know where to begin and how to approach the complicated terrain. This workshop will explore useful models and tools for encouraging study and action both by individual advocates and congregations. The presenters will provide real-life grassroots organizing stories “from the field” and will encourage audience members to contribute their own to the discussion.
 

5. Getting to Yes: How Israel-Palestinian Negotiations Can Succeed

I. William Zartman, Professor Emeritus, Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of
The Johns Hopkins University in Washington
Moderator: Warren Clark, CMEP Executive Director
Location: Executive Boardroom

What conditions might compel the Netanyahu government and the Palestinian leadership finally to move on the two-state solution? Dr. Bill Zartman, a renowned expert on conflict management and resolution, will discuss current challenges as well as reasons why the situation today may be ripe for resolution, with a focus on the role of the United States.
 

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