More radical Christian peacemakers arrive in Israel and Palestine
-24/02/05
More Christians working to reduce the worst effects of the Israeli occupation have arrived in Israel and Palestine.
A new group of 12 “ecumenical accompaniers” – recently praised for their peace-making work by former US president Jimmy Carter – have joined four others staying on from previous groups within the framework of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme
The new arrivals bring the total number of ecumenical accompaniers to 16.
The seven women and five men in the new group range in age from 23 to 75. Five Danes head the list, including three participants who are medical students, followed by three accompaniers from the United States, two from Germany, one from Norway, and one from Switzerland. Two of the Americans are ordained ministers: one from the United Church of Christ and the other from the Presbyterian Church.
Ecumenical accompaniers, who serve a minimum of three months, work in various capacities with local churches, Palestinian and Israeli NGOs, as well as Palestinian communities to try to reduce the brutality of the Occupation and improve the daily lives of both peoples.
The work of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) accompaniers – who monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and support acts of non-violent resistance – has been commended as demonstrating the positive role that churches play in Palestinian society.
Accompaniers will continue to be placed in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jayyous, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tulkarem and Yanoun.
One accompanier with journalism skills will be working with the Alternative Information Center (AIC), a joint Palestinian-Israeli initiative. The three medical students will be working with the Ramallah-based Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC). Part of their work will include accompanying mobile health clinics which bring medical attention to people who canít get to hospitals or health care facilities due to the restrictions on freedom of movement.
Since the programme was launched in August 2002, 180 ecumenical accompaniers have participated from more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 12 countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Aotearoa-New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
More radical Christian peacemakers arrive in Israel and Palestine
-24/02/05
More Christians working to reduce the worst effects of the Israeli occupation have arrived in Israel and Palestine.
A new group of 12 “ecumenical accompaniers” – recently praised for their peace-making work by former US president Jimmy Carter – have joined four others staying on from previous groups within the framework of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme
The new arrivals bring the total number of ecumenical accompaniers to 16.
The seven women and five men in the new group range in age from 23 to 75. Five Danes head the list, including three participants who are medical students, followed by three accompaniers from the United States, two from Germany, one from Norway, and one from Switzerland. Two of the Americans are ordained ministers: one from the United Church of Christ and the other from the Presbyterian Church.
Ecumenical accompaniers, who serve a minimum of three months, work in various capacities with local churches, Palestinian and Israeli NGOs, as well as Palestinian communities to try to reduce the brutality of the Occupation and improve the daily lives of both peoples.
The work of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) accompaniers – who monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law and support acts of non-violent resistance – has been commended as demonstrating the positive role that churches play in Palestinian society.
Accompaniers will continue to be placed in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jayyous, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tulkarem and Yanoun.
One accompanier with journalism skills will be working with the Alternative Information Center (AIC), a joint Palestinian-Israeli initiative. The three medical students will be working with the Ramallah-based Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC). Part of their work will include accompanying mobile health clinics which bring medical attention to people who canít get to hospitals or health care facilities due to the restrictions on freedom of movement.
Since the programme was launched in August 2002, 180 ecumenical accompaniers have participated from more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 12 countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Aotearoa-New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.