Proximal sites consisting of a divalent metal cation as a hydroxide and/or oxide and an anion site in the zeolite framework are very active for the conversion of methyl halides to ethylene. These studies further support the effects of zeolite framework and halide leaving-group stability reported previously (J. Am. Chem. Sec. 1993, 115, 4732-4741) and demonstrate multiple roles for divalent metal sites. Whereas the basic zeolite CsX converted methyl iodide to hydrocarbons at temperatures as low as 498 K, this reaction commenced at 248 K on the multifunctional catalyst ZnX. The orders of activity Zn2+ > Cd2+ and Mg2+ > Ba2+ suggest that Lewis acidity is one of these roles. Zeolite CuY is very selective for ethylene formation. These reactions were studied by in situ C-13 solid-state NMR, by in situ FTIR spectroscopy with a flow cell, and with conventional flow reactors. The active sites of ZnZSM-5 were also probed with H-1 solid-state NMR. The first intermediate is a framework-bound methoxy group. The C-13 NMR and FTIR properties bf this species have been correlated, and it is shown that this species is very similar or identical to that observed during methanol to gasoline chemistry. A detailed mechanism is proposed for the reaction of methyl halides on Zn and Mg zeolites that includes several explicit roles for the metal.