Muslim joins Christian accompaniers in Israel-Palestine
-12/08/05
A fresh group of mostly Christian peace and justice workers in Israel-Palestine includes a Muslim participant for the first time. She comes from South Africa.
‘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 Israeli occupation and to improve the daily lives of both peoples.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) was launched in August 2002. It was requested by the heads of the churches in Jerusalem, is coordinated by the World Council of Churches, and involves churches of different traditions across the world.
In Britain and Ireland EAPPI is run by Quakers and backed by other partners (including Christian Aid, the Church of Scotland, CAFOD and the United Reformed Church) in association with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
The latest group to go to Israel-Palestine include two other accompaniers from South Africa, four from Sweden, four from Norway, one from Canada, two from Switzerland, three from the UK (including Northern Ireland), and two from the USA. For the first time there is someone from Finland. The thirteen women and seven men range in age from 24 to 65.
Accompaniers will continue to be placed in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jayyous, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tulkarem and Yanoun, says EAPPI.
Ecumenical accompaniers monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, support acts of non-violent witness alongside local Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, offer protection through non-violent presence, engage in public policy advocacy, and stand in solidarity with the churches and all those struggling against the occupation.
Since the programme was launched, 217 accompaniers have participated from more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 13 countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Muslim joins Christian accompaniers in Israel-Palestine
-12/08/05
A fresh group of mostly Christian peace and justice workers in Israel-Palestine includes a Muslim participant for the first time. She comes from South Africa.
‘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 Israeli occupation and to improve the daily lives of both peoples.
The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) was launched in August 2002. It was requested by the heads of the churches in Jerusalem, is coordinated by the World Council of Churches, and involves churches of different traditions across the world.
In Britain and Ireland EAPPI is run by Quakers and backed by other partners (including Christian Aid, the Church of Scotland, CAFOD and the United Reformed Church) in association with Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).
The latest group to go to Israel-Palestine include two other accompaniers from South Africa, four from Sweden, four from Norway, one from Canada, two from Switzerland, three from the UK (including Northern Ireland), and two from the USA. For the first time there is someone from Finland. The thirteen women and seven men range in age from 24 to 65.
Accompaniers will continue to be placed in Bethlehem, Hebron, Jayyous, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tulkarem and Yanoun, says EAPPI.
Ecumenical accompaniers monitor and report violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, support acts of non-violent witness alongside local Christian and Muslim Palestinians and Israeli peace activists, offer protection through non-violent presence, engage in public policy advocacy, and stand in solidarity with the churches and all those struggling against the occupation.
Since the programme was launched, 217 accompaniers have participated from more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 13 countries: Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.