A CHARD woman has travelled from the West Country to the West Bank as part of a support group working in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Anne Plested, who worked for St Mary’s Church in Chard, has flown to the country in the Middle East as part of the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI).

EAPPI is a programme run by the World Council of Churches, and implemented in this country by the Quakers.

The programme was established in 2002 in response to a request for solidarity from church leaders in Jerusalem.

Anne will be part of an international team of three living in a Palestinian community, and they will be spending time working with an Israeli synagogue community in Haifa.

Anne said: “I believe the eyewitness account to be very powerful. It provides a truth that cannot be denied.

“I am looking forward to being a small part of a movement that ultimately aims to see an end to the occupation, and for both Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, without fear, and with justice and dignity for all.”

The EAPPI holds an impartial stand against violence, using International Humanitarian Law to assess situations, and aims to provide an eyewitness account of life in the occupied territory.

Anne’s role as an ecumenical accompanier (EA) has various aspects.

She will accompany of Palestinian school children, enabling them to attend school in a militarised environment they find intimidating, and accompanying farmers to farm their fields in the face of settler opposition.

As human rights monitors, EAs observe the separation barrier and checkpoints, where thousands of Palestinians negotiate passage to their fields, work or hospital every day.

As advocates, EAs speak with local and international bodies, report back, and, on return to UK, the eye-witness account is used to raise awareness by sharing the experience with church leaders and speaking to community groups.

For more, visit www.eappi.org.