Local church minister and grandmother, Carole Bourne, is preparing to travel to Israel/Palestine this summer to work as an Ecumenical Accompanier.   The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, began with  a request from leaders of different faiths in Jerusalem to monitor and protect human rights in areas of Occupied Palestine which, in turn, led to an invitation from the World Council of Churches to provide a presence of ‘principled impartiality’ in these areas, within the framework of international law.

Ecumenical Accompaniers come from all over the world to work in different areas of Palestine/Israel. Volunteers from United Kingdom are supervised by the Quakers, who handle organization and training.

Their brief is to work with local groups, both Israeli and Palestinian, monitor any human rights abuses and support the vulnerable.  

The work could involve accompanying children to school, talking to Palestinians and Israelis, helping to ensure that access to land and water is protected and maintaining a presence at checkpoints in the Security Barrier

Carole spent two months working at St George’s Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem in 2015 and is conscious of the need to build trust and co-operation between Israelis and Palestinians.  

“If peace could be achieved here,” said Carole, “the area would be able to use the skills and talents of both communities to become a beacon of achievement and an inspiration to the rest of the region.”

Local organisations in Kingston and Elmbridge, are aware of Carole’s impending visit and are keen to support her, and others’, work in this area.   

On her return to the UK in September 2017, she will report back on her trip. She will be happy to visit local groups and talk about her experiences in the occupied territories.

Article supplied by Carole Bourne