ecumenical accompanier

I have come to Jerusalem as an Ecumenical Accompanier, a daunting and inspiring role to take on. Here is a sample of tasks my team will be tackling the coming three months:

Many early mornings will be spent at checkpoints, observing people's efforts to cross from the West Bank to Jerusalem. There is an intricate system of who is allowed in and under what conditions. Perhaps more than anything, the inpredictability of the rules of the game causes constant frustration. At our first checkpoint watch at Zeitun checkpoint, pictured on the right, our group of observers was held back for 45 minutes and not allowed to cross, although internationals should not have any trouble crossing these checkpoints. We'll be back there next week...

Our second task is tied to the building of the separation wall. As a response to legitimate security concerns, Israel has chosen to build a separation barrier in the form of fences & trenches or, in densely populated areas, enormous concrete slabs. The wall has disastrous effects on the human rights situation in Palestinian areas - it splits families, strangles the economy, and separates Palestinians from their fields, from schools, health centres, and/or religious sites. It works as an effective land grab, circling in Israeli settlements and ensuring they have space for expansion. Houses are demolitied and land confiscated in the path of the wall. At Ar Ram, east in Jerusalem, a small slot remains for people to pass through. There is no public information on when it will be shut. We'll be following the situation at Ar Ram and other places where the wall is under construction.

Lastly, we're in Jerusalem to support the Israeli peace movement and human rights organisations, and learn from them. This includes joining Rabbis on olive harvests in Palestinian villages, dressing in black to oppose the occupation together with the Women in Black, witnessing house demolitions, and attending events and demonstrations that might come our way. Add to this English classes with young and eager Bedouin girls, various advocacy work, and guiding delegations around, and there you have my average week. Not quite sure where this will take me, but ready to give it a go!