WCC News: Accompaniers continue their work virtually in Palestine and Israel

Iskandar Majlaton, programme coordinator for the World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme Palestine and Israel, offers an update on how accompaniers have been able to continue their work virtually.  Jordan Valley, West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territories (2018): Ecumenical Accompaniers from the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine in Israel accompany shepherds in many parts of the West Bank, providing an international presence known to have a mitigating effect on confrontations between Israeli settlers and the Palestinians. EAs' presence also helps Palestinians access lands they otherwise might not have dared to continue to cultivate. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 20 April 2026 Would you describe the need for accompaniers amid escalating conflict?  Majlaton: Following the evacuation of ecumenical accompaniers due to the escalation of hostilities, the physical presence of international witnesses was necessarily interrupted. Yet the communities we serve, farmers and Bedouin communities in the South Hebron Hills, families and schoolchildren in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, and communities in the Jordan Valley, continue to endure profound vulnerability and daily pressures. How does the virtual programme serve as a bridge? Majlaton: Our commitment to these communities is rooted not only in programmatic responsibility but in a theological calling: to bear witness, to stand in solidarity, and to affirm the dignity of all people as created in the image of God. While the virtual accompaniment programme does not replace the incarnational value of physical presence, it serves as a faithful and necessary bridge. Through it, we seek to ensure that these communities are neither unseen nor unheard, and that the ministry of accompaniment, grounded in justice, compassion, and truth, continues despite physical distance. Please describe some of the components of the programme.  Majlaton: The virtual accompaniment programme remains grounded in the ethos of accompaniment, adapted thoughtfully to the present context. Its key components include weekly virtual engagement; listening, documentation, and witness; and reporting and advocacy. What can your ecumenical family pray for you as you continue in this work?  Majlaton: We humbly ask our ecumenical family to continue holding this ministry in prayer. Pray for the protection, resilience, and steadfast hope of the communities we accompany, who continue to face daily uncertainty and hardship. Pray for the safety and wisdom of our local staff, placement drivers, and ecumenical accompaniers, as they navigate complex realities with courage and discernment. Pray for the integrity and fruitfulness of our shared witness, that truth may be spoken with clarity and received with openness. By working with national coordinators to share the verified stories and reports gathered, you help amplify the voices of those struggling for justice, equal rights, and peace. Your continued solidarity, awareness-raising, and engagement with decision-makers are crucial in supporting our mission for a just peace. Learn more about the WCC's Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland