Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
Name	Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
Abbreviation	EAPPI
Founded	2002
Founder	World Council of Churches
Headquarters	Geneva
Area served	Palestine, Israel
Focus	Ecumenical accompaniment, human rights, nonviolent intervention

Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel operates as an international initiative associated with the World Council of Churches, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the Methodist Church and other Christian Conference bodies to provide protective accompaniment and international observation in the Israeli–Palestinian context. It deploys ecumenical volunteers alongside local Palestinian Christian communities, Israeli civil society groups, and United Nations agencies to document incidents, support nonviolent action, and report to Ecumenical Delegation partners, aiming to influence policy debates in capitals such as Geneva, Brussels, and Washington, D.C..

Overview and Mission

EAPPI frames its mission in terms of solidarity with Palestinian civilians, advocacy with international actors, and accompaniment at flashpoints such as checkpoints near Hebron, village demolitions in Area C, and settler-related incidents in East Jerusalem. The programme emphasizes protective presence modeled after precedents like the International Solidarity Movement, the Quaker Peace & Social Witness, and the Nonviolent Peaceforce, while liaising with ecumenical institutions including the World Methodist Council, the Council for World Mission, and national churches such as the Church of England and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

History and Origins

EAPPI was launched by the World Council of Churches in 2002 against the backdrop of the Second Intifada, the Oslo Accords aftermath, and renewed international attention following events such as the Ariel Sharon era and the reconfiguration of borders after the 2000 Camp David Summit. Founders drew on earlier ecumenical interventions in contexts including South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina to shape mandates, training curricula, and rules of engagement. Early deployments involved coordination with faith-based organizations like the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and partnerships with NGOs such as B'Tselem and Al-Haq for documentation protocols.

Activities and Programs

EAPPI undertakes accompaniment at checkpoints adjacent to sites like Hebron (H2), presence during home demolitions in neighborhoods near Nabi Saleh and Silwan, and monitoring of access to olive groves in West Bank villages such as Susiya and Bil'in. Program elements include protective accompaniment, incident reporting to bodies such as the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), advocacy briefings for delegations to European Parliament and United States Congress, and educational outreach via partners including the World Council of Churches and national episcopal conferences. Volunteers receive training referencing international instruments like the Geneva Conventions and comparative case studies from Truth and Reconciliation Commission experiences.

Structure and Governance

Governance of EAPPI involves oversight from the World Council of Churches central committee and coordination with ecumenical partners such as the Conference of European Churches, the All Africa Conference of Churches, and national church bodies including the United Methodist Church and the Church of Sweden. Operational management is conducted through field coordinators stationed in locales such as Ramallah and Jerusalem with liaison to diplomatic missions including delegations from Norway, Sweden, and the European Union. Advisory input has come from human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch and from academic institutions that study conflict such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Birzeit University.

Controversies and Criticism

EAPPI has been criticized by actors including certain Israeli political figures, settler advocacy groups, and critics within some church constituencies who allege partiality or inappropriate political activism; disputes reference reports by Knesset members and statements from ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel). Critics compare EAPPI's tactics to those of the International Solidarity Movement and question links to organizations accused of supporting Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaigns, provoking debate within bodies like the Anglican Communion and the United Nations Human Rights Council. Defenders point to documented interventions during incidents involving Israeli Defense Forces and settler violence and to corroboration with data from OCHA and B'Tselem.

Impact and Evaluations

Evaluations by ecumenical stakeholders, independent researchers at institutions such as Oxford University and Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and human rights groups indicate mixed outcomes: instances of immediate de-escalation at specific checkpoints and deterrence of settler actions are reported alongside critiques of limited systemic policy influence in forums like the United Nations General Assembly or bilateral diplomacy in Washington, D.C.. Scholarly assessment draws on comparative peacebuilding literature including cases from South Africa and Northern Ireland to analyze EAPPI's model of protective accompaniment and its influence on narratives within ecclesial bodies such as the World Council of Churches.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding streams for EAPPI have included contributions from national churches (for example, the Church of Norway and the Church of Sweden), ecumenical funds coordinated through the World Council of Churches, and grants from agencies in countries such as Canada and Ireland, alongside partnerships with NGOs like B'Tselem, Al-Haq, and international agencies including OCHA. Collaborative relationships extend to theological institutions, human rights organizations, and parliamentary advocacy networks in capitals including London and Brussels to support reporting, volunteer recruitment, and policy advocacy within the ecumenical movement.

Category:Christian ecumenical organizations Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict