Housewife stands firm for peace

While no one should deny Israel's right to security, tthe barrier does not follow the internationally recognised border between Israel and Palestine and cuts deep into Palestinian land causing real hardship in every day life. . Villagers are cut off from their water supply. They are unable to grow food or graze their animals and lose their livelihood from the olive harvest.

Mary's work involved supporting villagers by her presence as they carried out their daily activities obstructed by the many road blocks set up by the Israeli Defence Forces. She spoke with people working for both Palestinian and Israeli peace activists and she liaised with Israeli Human Rights organisations to highlight any violations. Asked if she felt at danger herself, Mary said she just got up every morning and got on with it. For her at least her time there was limited. Back in this country Mary does all she can to make people aware of the effects of Israel's 40 year occupation of the West Bank. . Mary summed up the situation like this: 'Don't let anyone tell you it's a complicated issue. It's very simple, it's occupation. Treat the disease and the symptoms will go away.'

The Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) sends international volunteers to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It was set up in 2000 as an initiative of the World Council of Churches and is administered in the UK by Quakers. Mary's talk was organised locally as a contribution to National Quaker Week. For further information see www.quaker.org.uk/different

After the talk Palestinian olive oil was on sale and a Middle Eastern lunch was enjoyed. £314 was raised towards the project.

Pictured: Mary Clarke of Richmond asks soldiers to let a farmer take his tractor to his fields