A hunger strike protesting Israel's "separation wall" was joined by Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) activists on Friday 9 July. Organized by Israeli-Arab Knesset member Doctor Azmi Bishara, the strike coincided with the declaration by the International Court of Justice that the construction of the barrier is "contrary to international law". The following stories about EAPPI participation and...

It is now ten years since the transition from apartheid to democracy, but South Africans continue to advocate for human rights in the face of conflict and oppression, this time a bit farther from home.

"No! These are my guests, and this is my house!" The admonition is delivered to Israeli soldiers attempting to stop a group of Palestinian women crossing the grounds of a monastery. The messenger is Father Claudio Ghilardi, a Passionist priest from Italy. His message is clear: at least as far as the monastery grounds are concerned, he will not permit the harassment of Palestinians by soldiers.

Churches' concern over the situation in Iraq and the Israel/Palestine conflict, the role of religion in conflict, and working relations between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the United Nations Organization were the focus of a first meeting between the UN secretary-general Kofi Annan and the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia.

With the arrival in April of 20 new ecumenical accompaniers, the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) will continue to seek peaceful and nonviolent solutions to the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The new arrivals will join six accompaniers staying on from previous groups, bringing the total number currently on the ground to 26.

Six new articles now available, offering first-hand testimonies of the recent day of demonstrations throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem. The protests coincided with the opening of hearings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the legality of Israel's "separation fence."

From helping people in need to get through checkpoints to assisting villagers to resist settlers' harassment, Israeli peace and human rights activists are committed to getting relief to Palestinians at the same time as they contribute to enabling the birth of a lasting peace

Not many readers would be in a position to confront the type of 14-year-old boy I did on a recent visit to Palestine. He said to me with pride: "My father was a martyr and my cousin was a bomber and blew up Jews in Jerusalem." Had there been time for more sustained conversation, the booklet by Dr. Naim Ateek entitled Suicide Bombers: "What is Theologically and Morally Wrong with Suicide Bombings? A Palestinian Christian...

Key initiatives on inter-religious dialogue and HIV/AIDS, plans for the WCC's ninth assembly, and statements on critical international situations were some of the main areas of discussion at the WCC executive committee meeting which ended in Geneva on 20 February 2004. A special ceremony and prayer service marked the formal installation of the new WCC general secretary, Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, earlier in the week.

The executive committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC) has issued a powerful appeal to the Israeli government demanding that they "stop and reverse the construction of the wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territories"