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Thank you for the ongoing, positive response to the work of Global Mission. Groups and individuals who have served in Vanuatu on short-term visits during 2004 have done a fantastic job and the booking schedule for 2005 is already jam-packed. If you are interested in serving overseas please contact us.

Global Mission Gazette

We ‘go to print’ five times a year and distribute 2,000 copies! What a fantastic response. Please let us have your mailing details if you would like to receive a copy.

Global Mission website

It takes Lori and I hours (literally) to gather, check and load the info onto the website. Please take a few minutes to have a look: www.presbyterian.org.nz/globalmission

Ecumenical Accompaniment in Palestine Israel (EAPPI)

Soon after her return, Rev Glenn Barclay wrote in Bush Telegraph about her experiences in Ramallah and other parts of Israel Palestine. This article can be found at www.presbyterian.org.nz/2518.0.html. In this second part, Glenn gives details of where other members of ‘her’ team were stationed and the kind of work they undertook.

You can read about the work of subsequent EAPPI teams by following the links on our website at www.presbyterian.org.nz/2078.0.html#5748.

Working in the Holy Land - by Rev Glenn Barclay

Ecumenical Accompaniment is about teamwork, as is all mission work. In Palestine Israel the Ecumenical Accompaniers (EA’s) were placed depending on suitability, numbers and need. Read these overviews and see what you can make of what my first group did and why there was a need for someone in that placement.

Jayous:

A once peaceful farming village in upper West Bank with a population of 3,000. Their suffering was caused by:

a) The Wall leading to total disruption of daily life. It blocks farmers from fields; children from schools; and business people from resources and buyers. Officially gates were meant to be opened regularly. Not so.

b) Soldiers regularly enter the village throwing tear gas. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) often harass or treat people violently, farmers are beaten, and produce overturned. Families are threatened by random night visits by IDF.

c) Refusal to renew permits for young farmers to access fields.

EAs: Four British men did ‘Gatewatch’ and monitored the times it was open and arbitrarily closed. They also observed the (mis)treatment of people; provided protection by presence and advocated for fair treatment; and visited local leaders and persecuted families.

Hebron:

A city of around 70,000 people, which has a huge military presence by occupiers. It is true things are tough on the young soldiers, but it is far tougher on the average Palestinian. Why?

a) Settlers sometimes shoot at school children; they regularly harass and try to terrorise them. Settlers live near one school so playtime is also terror time.

b) Checkpoints are set up within the City. Everyone is constantly checked, which blocks the free flow of life. The inner business area is pitted with bullet holes; this evidences recent warfare.

c) The Wall will enclose Hebron entirely.

d) Families and workers are plagued by vandalism, the brutality of soldiers, Border Police and violence of both settlers and Palestinian gunmen.

e) Frequent curfews.

Other Internationals like Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT), Young Men’s Christian Association, and Temporary International Peaceworkers in Hebron (a United Nations initiative) have also been involved. Kiwi, Christina Gibbs of CPT, has recently reported from Hebron of the vicious beating of two of her team by Settlers.

EAs: Two Norwegian women escorted children to school and back. They did playground duty especially during Sabbath. They also built trust with some patrols and escorted people through checkpoints.

Yanoun:

This is a remote pastoral village in Nablus governate - it is not able to have protection from Palestinian Liberation Army. People are suffering because:

a) Settlers from nearby Itamar settlements (illegal according to Geneva Convention) terrorise and confiscate villagers’ land.

b) Deep anxiety of squeeze-out/take-over by aggressive settlers.

c) International people have been beaten by clubs and rifle-butts. If there had been no international 24/7 presence, this village would be evacuated immediately. Villagers have no recourse to any legal system.

EAs: Four women who were Norwegian, Swedish and British. Their presence was protection and security of tenure. Check out www.womenspeacepalestine.org/yanoun.htm for more information. Other internationals also participated in this work.

Bethlehem – El Deisha Camp:

This has been a refugee camp since 1948. One EA worked with children in this very well organised volunteer work. Children have no true childhood here. There has been an exodus of Christians because of actions by Israeli police and the faltering economy. There was a siege of Church of the Nativity; the EA team member referred to here, died in this church.

Sawahreh:

Located five kilometres from heart of Jerusalem, with a population of 30,000 people. The Wall is being built through the town, which will create three distinct parts; roads to one part are now closed; and many houses were demolished and 2,000 trees uprooted. A civilian committee tent used for prayers, planning of demonstrations and local solidarity using non-violence was attacked.

EAs: Two women and one man were on the team. They were from Norwegian, Swedish and British. They coordinated ‘Stop The Wall’ demonstrations; support for prayer and planning and were also involved in protection of locals by presence.

Red Cross/Crescent Ambulance Work:

EAs : Four Danish nurses and doctors travelled with the sick through checkpoints to access hospitals, and attended demonstrations to pick up and aid the wounded. Ambulances were frequently shot at. Medics also suffer tear gas and injury, and some have been killed.

Ramallah:

This was a new placement for EAPPI. I was one of three women who made up the first team - Swiss, American and Kiwi! You can read detailed information on my work in the previous article in the June edition of Bush Telegraph .

ISRAEL TEAM:

There was also an entire team dedicated to working in support of Israeli Peace Groups. They attempted to build bridges with Israeli people, monitor human rights abuses and follow legal cases. This was also a new initiative.

EAs: A Scottish lawyer; two Norwegians; one Swedish person and an American educator/writer.

CONCLUSION:

I feel privileged to have been asked to fulfil the 2002 Assembly decision to participate in EAPPI. To have been the first New Zealander to serve through EAPPI made it that much more special. I am grateful to everyone who not only supported me while I was in Israel Palestine, but also for the warm and generous support I have received while travelling the country on deputation.

If you have any interest in serving as an EA, or would like more information, please contact me on glennjettab@actrix.co.nz or the Global Mission Office.