Middle East Socioeconomic Overview

Report: October 2023

Undeniably, the Middle East region entered a new phase due to the violent events occurring across occupied Palestine. Atrocities are threatening to expand to an unprecedented scale. Despite the calls for restraint by various international and regional actors, blood is being grotesquely spilt like never before and the intensity of the violence might exacerbate more violence in the rest of the Middle East. It is a pity how the Holy Land, where Jesus Christ was incarnated and lived, is being used to spread evil and a lust for violence. Hopefully in the coming months a ceasefire will be declared to ease the human suffering. However, knowing the key players involved in this violence, war will drag on for quite a while.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, MECC releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2024, under the title “You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27), after it was translated into Arabic by the Council, as every year.

As for the message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, it is entitled this week “Violence against children and crime against childhood are scourges that are out of control”, and it is for the occasion of the International Week of Science and Peace determined by the United Nations to be celebrated yearly between 9 and 15 November. In his word, Dr. Abs said that building trust between science and people is necessary, but countries, universities, research centers and laboratories must prove to us that people can trust what is being produced behind closed doors.

Tomorrow begins the International Week of Science and Peace, which was first celebrated in 1986 as part of the celebration of the International Year for Peace.

Following the success of this, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the “International Week of Science and Peace” as an event that is repeated in November of each year and plays the role of catalyst for the promotion of peace.

According to the United Nations page dedicated to this occasion, the role of this week is to encourage academic exchange and sensitize people to the relationship between science and peace, with a focus on cooperation between the applications of science to promote peace as well as on the relationship between progress in science and technology and maintaining peace and security in the world.

As for the year 2023, the activities revolve around the topic of building confidence in science, as the United Nations page dedicated to this topic states that “the role of science in shaping our collective future cannot be activated except when there is confidence in it.” It considers that confidence in science is the gateway to responding to the challenges our world faces. However, according to the same website, building trust between science and society is not an easy endeavor in light of the many questions about scientists’ methodologies and society’s trust in them.

“You shall love the Lord your God... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27)

The Middle East Council of Churches releases the Arabic version of the “Week of Prayer for Christian Unity” booklet 2024, under the title “You shall love the Lord your God ... and your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27). The title has been chosen at a time when the world and the Middle East are suffering from many wars, conflicts, crises and divisions in light of a wave of injustice, inequity and hate speech...

Hence, the booklet invites us to Pray and work together in mutual love during this difficult period that the world is facing, especially that the love of Christ which unites all Christians is stronger than their divisions and will overcome all violence.

The booklet is centered around the biblical text from Luke 10:25-37, in which Jesus reaffirmed the traditional Jewish teaching from Deuteronomy 6:5, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might”; and Leviticus 19:18b, “you shall love your neighbour as yourself”.

The Middle East Council of Churches, in cooperation with ABAAD Organization

In an Awareness Session About Breast Cancer

Under the title of "You Deserve Life", and on the occasion of the Pink October Month, the international awareness month of breast cancer, the medical team at the Middle East Council of Churches, Lebanon’s Office, in collaboration with ABAAD organization conducted an awareness activity at the "Martyr Hassan Khaled Educational Center" which is affiliated with Dar El-Fatwa. Participants were 60 women from different nationalities.

The activity included a presentation which highlighted the importance of early detection through self- examination and mammography as well as the types of cancer, and the methods of treatment, which were presented by Dr. Sameer Shleweet who is specializing in Obstetrics & Gynecology and from the MECC team. Moreover, the women participated in some recreational activities that contributed to reducing the daily pressures that may surround them.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, entitled “Violence against children and crime against childhood are scourges that are out of control”. It was the speech he delivered at the monthly webinar held by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) under the title “Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 26 October 2023.

The issue also presents details about this webinar which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook Page, included three interventions, moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh, and began with a speech delivered by the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs. Participants were specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand.

Children, along with the elderly and individuals with special needs, are among the most vulnerable groups. They are susceptible to various forms of discrimination and abuse.

As one of the most defenseless segments of society, children often face violence from those close to them as well as strangers. Our popular culture, while satisfactory in some aspects, provides numerous examples that highlight the vulnerability of children to those around them.

Phrases such as ‘The stick from heaven’ and ‘Where did you get the good behavior? From the hanger above’ (i.e. the stick ) are indicative of this issue. These sayings, often used by parents when entrusting their child to a teacher or tutor, imply that the educator has the liberty to use violence against the child who has worn out his parents’ patience.

Such expressions reflect a disturbing acceptance of violence against children, emphasizing the urgent need for societal change.

The Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs was the guest of the journalist Lea Adel Maamary in an episode within the program “Moubadarat” (which means “Initiatives”) program on “Voice of Van” Radio, on Thursday 2 November 2023. Hence, you can watch the episode through the video.

During the episode, Dr. Michel Abs highlighted the statement issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) concerning the painful events in Gaza, and talked about the MECC role in crises’ response and the initiatives it takes. As well as, he spoke about the concept of human justice stressing the necessity of preserving human dignity and rights.

Thursday 2 November 2023, at 4 p.m. Beirut time

Watch the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) Dr. Michel Abs in an episode within the program “Moubadarat” (which means “Initiatives”) program on “Voice of Van” Radio 94.7 – 95 FM. He will be interviewed by the journalist Lea Adel Maamary, on Thursday 2 November 2023, at 4 pm Beirut Time.

The Middle East Council of Churches, Communication and Public Relations Department, have now issued its online Ecumenical calendar for the month of November 2023. It includes the Ecclesiastical and Liturgical feasts of the various families of Churches in the Middle East. In addition to international days identified by the United Nations, and which are related to the MECC identity and its spiritual and human mission.

The New Monthly Webinar Organized by the Middle East Council of Churches

Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs: Let everyone who practices violence against a child, be it physical or verbal, know that he/ she is violating the will of the Creator and sowing in society a brick of hatred and resentment

The Middle East Council of Churches pursues its series of monthly seminars, and held a new webinar entitled “Violence Against Children and Human Dignity”, on Thursday 26 October 2023, with the participation of specialists, academicians, universities’ students and interested attendees in the topic at hand. Noting that this webinar comes within the framework of the “Human Dignity Project” - “Dialogue and Social Cohesion-Social Capital Rehabilitation”, which MECC is implementing consecutively.

The webinar, which was broadcasted live on the MECC Facebook Page, included three interventions, moderated by Dr. Chawki Attieh, who denounced in his opening speech all the scenes of violence in the world in light of the painful events that Gaza is witnessing, and spoke about the types of violence and their effects on children.

The webinar began with a speech by the Secretary General of the Middle East Council of Churches, Dr. Michel Abs, in which he condemned the phenomenon of violence against children…

Middle East Christians assert their rejection of violence as they relate frustration with lack of Western recognition of the reality of occupation and the collateral damage of bombing campaigns.

Jayson Casper

Since the outbreak of war after unprecedented terror attacks on [Israel] by Hamas, Middle Eastern churches, councils, and leaders have expressed their outrage over the killing of thousands of innocent civilians.

Many Arab Christian groups have issued public statements. Most emphasized the Christian call to be peacemakers. Several have been criticized for what some see as calls not specifically addressing the suffering of civilian Jews targeted for death by terrorists.

Originating from Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon—with most prompted by the tragic bombing of the Anglican hospital in Gaza—the public statements range in focus and intensity. Some assert the international community overlooks the context of occupation by the [Israeli] state; others remind the global church of the continued Christian presence in the land.

In the new issue of the weekly newsletter Momentum issued by the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Communication and Public Relations Department, you can find the weekly message of the MECC Secretary General Dr. Michel Abs, entitled “Land of Martyrs and Saints”, in which he talked about the caravan of martyrs and saints that will not end; its record is open from eternity and forever. He also mentioned the consecration of the Saints Father Nicolas Khasha and his son, Father Habib Khasha, the Damascenes, in the Orthodox Church of Antioch, and the canonization of Patriarch Estephan Douaihy, in the Syriac Maronite Church. As well as, Dr. Abs talked about the martyrs of the war taking place in the Land of God, Palestine, and particularly Gaza.