EAPPI

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) brings internationals to the West Bank to experience life under occupation. Ecumenical Accompaniers (EAs) provide protective presence to vulnerable communities, monitor and report human rights abuses and support Palestinians and Israelis working together for peace.

In June 2012 the Church of England General Synod came under pressure from the Board of Deputies of British Jews (BoD) and the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC), who lobbied for it to reject the motion which, among other clauses, expressed its support for the work of EAPPI.

On 25th June JfJfP issued a statement against this intimidation and in support of the motion. We are pleased to announce that the Synod refused to be intimidated and the motion submitted by Dr John Dinnen was adopted in its entirely. Here are links to a variety of articles telling the story:

Board of Deputies launches attack on Christian churches’ programme

This posting has 5 items:

1) Ben White’s report on Board of Deputies campaign;
2) We Believe in Israel petition;
3) Excerpt from paper by Dr John Dinnen;
4) Jewish Chronicle  spots one of Board’s deliberate mistakes;
5) Ben White introduces Statement from JfJfP

Church of England backs Palestine motion in spite of strong Israel lobby pressure. Ben White’s account of Synod’s decision, Electronic Intifada 7th July 2012

Finally, on this episode, Unpublished letters to the JC: Whatever one’s criticisms of the Jewish Chronicle over the years, it is nonetheless sad to see it sliding into the mire of both sectarianism and irrelevancy. Critical letters don’t often get published, but we still submit them from time to time. Follow this link to four unpublished offerings on this topic, plus a letter from an Ecumenical Accompanier that was published, but edited to lose its most telling detail.