Under the WCC’s Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme, Christians live among communities in the disputed West Bank – the area occupied by Israel since the Six Day War in 1967. Israeli settlements on the West Bank are seen as illegal under international law, but Israel disputes that.
One of the volunteers, Sarah Donald, told Premier: “We are here by invitation of the churches to witness the violation of international human rights and law.”
Examples of the work include accompanying Palestinian shepherds as they move sheep onto land adjoining Israeli settlements, travelling to school with children in troubled areas and trying to calm other tense situations between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers or settlers.
Another volunteer, Jane Foster, said: “By being there and being recognisably neutral but in support of international law and human rights, it makes the Israeli settlers and others think twice about behaving badly.”
EAs monitor and document the situation at many checkpoints in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and offer basic support if anyone is denied passage
Critics of the project say it sides with Palestinians and is unduly critical of the Israeli government. But the ecumenical accompaniers reject the criticism.
The WCC’s guidelines insist on neutrality between the different…
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