| GENEVA — Twenty new “ecumenical accompaniers” have arrived in Israel/Palestine, bringing to 26 the number of peace workers on the ground as part of the World Council of Churches (WCC)-related Ecumenical Accompaniment Program in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).
Ecumenical accompaniers work with local churches, Palestinian and Israeli NGOs, as well as Palestinian communities in various capacities to try to reduce the brutality of the occupation and improve the daily lives of both peoples.
The new team of accompaniers comes from six countries including, for the first time, one from France. Canada, Germany, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland continue to be represented. The 14 women and six men, who come for a minimum service of three months, range in age from 26 to 73 years.
EAPPI coordinator Salpy Eskidjian said, “In the wake of Israel’s decision, supported by the United States, to take ‘unilateral measures’ rather than enter into dialogue with Palestinian representatives, EAPPI continues to work with Palestinians and Israelis who are seeking an end to the occupation through nonviolent means and a just solution to the long conflict.”
Four accompaniers will continue the work in Sawahreh and three others will be in Jayyous, villages severely affectd by the construction of Israel’s “separation barrier.” (click here to view David Young's photo essay)
Four will be working with the Christian community and refugee camps in the West Bank town of Ramallah, which is very tense because of recent Israeli threats against Palestinian Authority leader Yasser Arafat, whose headquarters is in Ramallah.
Three accompaniers will be working in Hebron, accompanying children going to school and monitoring the human rights situation. Three will be living in the West Bank village of Yanoun.
One accompanier with a medical background will be working with the Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees (UPMRC).
Since EAPPI was launched in August 2002, 115 ecumenical accompaniers have participated from more than 30 churches and ecumenical partners in 10 countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
For more information and photos on EAPPI’s work, visit their web site.
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