Feature story
In a handover ceremony at St Anne’s Church in Jerusalem, the new accompaniers officially began their three-month term, marking a significant milestone as the 100th group to serve since the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel began in 2002. The event signified a powerful moment of restoration and recommitment, as they are the first team to be deployed after a prolonged pause, following the necessary evacuation of the previous group due to heightened security concerns.
The previous group of accompaniers was honored for their courageous service during an exceptionally challenging period. “They navigated an extremely tough security situation with remarkable maturity and dedication, successfully reporting 509 incidents and documenting 557 human rights violations,” said Iskandar Majlaton, programme coordinator for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel. “Their work ensured that the flame of witness, though tested, was never extinguished.”
The three-month absence of accompaniers on the ground created a tangible void, added Majlaton.
“The continuity of presence on the ground was broken,” he stated. “In that absence, we are acutely aware that the burden on the communities we serve has grown heavier.”
However, he emphasized that the commitment to a just peace in Israel and Palestine under international humanitarian law never wavered. The arrival of the latest group of accompaniers—the eighth group to serve since the events of 7 October 2023—stands as a testament to this enduring resolve.
“The handover ceremony was a deeply spiritual and hopeful event, centered on the theme of restoration,” said Majlaton.
In his welcoming remarks, George Sahhar, advocacy officer for the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, spoke of the divine hand in bringing the new group together. “Each time I participate in welcoming a new group, I am always amazed and filled with hope,” he shared. “It is indeed God’s invisible hand. When you stand up for the downtrodden, it is because God wants you here.”
Majlaton echoed this sentiment, framing the group’s return as a “prisoners of hope” moment, referencing the prophet Zechariah. “Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double,” he quoted, adding, “We return to this stronghold of faith and service… We pray for the strength to be a source of steadfast hope and to render double—double the dedication, double the compassion, and double the commitment—for the time that was lost.”
The ceremony included a biblical reflection by Pastor Ines Fischer of the Church of the Ascension and a powerful moment of “Passing on the Light,” where outgoing staff lit the candles of the new accompaniers, symbolizing the transfer of responsibility and the continuous flame of witness. The service was filled with prayer and song, including a rendition of the Palestinian prayer call, “Yarabba ssalami.”
The core of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel’s mission is to provide a protective presence to vulnerable communities, bear witness to daily life under occupation, and engage in advocacy to end the occupation. The accompaniers’ work involves monitoring and reporting human rights abuses, ensuring children’s safe passage to school, and supporting farmers and families facing harassment and violence.
In his speech, Majlaton reminded the new group of the profound responsibility they were undertaking. “The work of an accompanier requires immense courage, tolerance, and a resolve to share space with the vulnerable,” he said. He also stressed that their mission would not conclude at the end of their three-month term.
“Your mission does not end when you return to your home country. It transforms,” he charged them. “You come, you observe, you eyewitness. Then, you return home as ambassadors for peace, advocates for the oppressed, and voices calling tirelessly for a just peace and an end to the occupation.”
This message was reinforced by Sahhar, who urged the new accompaniers to be a shining light. “My advice to you during your time in Palestine is to be like the light of a lamp that is not put under a basket, but on a lampstand, and that gives light to all who are in the house,” he said. “May God protect and lead your path and help you shine, so that those who do not see the light will see it because of you.”
