Letter from Tent of Nations - Persevering despite another delay

Inscription reads: WE REFUSE TO BE ENEMIES - Photo: Emma Halgren/WCC

The Nassar family have owned and farmed their property for over a century - and have a title going back to the 1920's. The 100-acre farm is surrounded by Israeli settlements. Despite many years of struggle against attempts to take the land from his family, Daoud Nasser's Christian faith commits him to love for his neighbours and the cause of reconciliation. Over the past decade and a half, the Tent of Nations has welcomed thousands of pilgrims and volunteers to help them cultivate the land - and grow seeds of hope by building bridges between people.

Dear Friends of Tent of Nations,

This message comes jointly from Daoud Nassar and the Friends of Tent of Nations North America. Your solidarity and prayers have buoyed the spirits of the whole Nassar family! Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic (when international visits to the farm suddenly had to stop), the Tent of Nations Farm has endured continual attacks on their land resulting in destruction of terraced fields, infrastructure, and trees; intense legal attempts to confiscate the Nassar's land; and in January, brutal attacks on Daoud and Daher Nassar. Despite all this, the Nassars are "still determined not to give up, but to repair the damage, replant new trees, and move forward."

This morning, April 29, Daoud acknowledged a new setback as the scheduled May 2 hearing on the farm's re-registration was again postponed indefinitely. On the Tent of Nations Facebook page, Daoud wrote:

Dear friends of Tent of Nations Nassar Farm,

I am writing to inform you that the hearing that was scheduled on the 2nd of May has been postponed and no new date has been scheduled yet. We expected this to happen, although we had hoped that the session would take place and the process would move forward smoothly and end the 32 years of struggle to protect the farm. We will keep you updated and will let you know the new date as soon as we hear back.

In the meanwhile, we are again enjoying the ability to host international visitors and volunteers. They join us in cultivating the land, planting new trees of hope, and inviting more people to accompany us on this long journey for justice.

We would like to ask you to continue to share our story, raise more awareness in your communities and encourage more visitors and volunteers to come to see and then go back to tell the story of steadfastness and hope.

We will also let you know what else you can do to help. Thank you so much for all your support and solidarity.

And the journey continues with faith, love and hope,

Daoud Nassar.

Many readers have asked what they can do to support the Nassar family. Daoud believes that the most helpful steps we can take are to:

- Continue to shine a light on the Tent of Nations story by sharing the Nassar family's story with your friends and family.

- View the Carter Center's 3:16 video of Jihan and Daoud: http://forum.cartercenter.org/media/how-can-pain-and-frustration-be-channeled-positive-actions-middle-east

· Visit the Tent of Nations.

· Volunteer at the Tent of Nations (see links below for more information).

LINKS

Tent of Nations - www.tentofnations.org/

Friends of Tent of Nations Steering Committee: www.fotonna.org