Help save Tent of Nations: the remarkable Palestinian peace project!

Loading....

PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
You will have the opportunity to review the message before sending it.

Help to Save Tent of Nations!
This multi-generational family peace project, beloved and celebrated around the world, is in danger of confiscation and destruction.

TO CONTACT CONGRESS NOW,
SCROLL DOWN AND FILL OUT THE FORM
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

The Tent of Nations peace project is located on the Nassar family’s 100-acre farm, six miles from Bethlehem. It is in Area C of the West Bank, occupied Palestinian territory; Area C is under full Israeli military control.

This beautiful and extensive farm is being slowly strangled by the never-ending Israeli military occupation, surrounded by expanding Israeli settlements that are illegally colonizing the West Bank.

The Nassar family purchased the land over one hundred years ago and has been farming it ever since.
For decades, they have been in a continuous legal struggle with the Israeli government and courts, successfully crossing every legal hurdle to establish their ownership of their land.

Nevertheless, their land continues to be attacked, portions of it are destroyed, access roads and services are cut off.
In spite of the military and vigilante violence they have suffered and all the legal maneuvers to remove them, the Nassars have found extraordinary ways to remain steadfast and to thrive.

Twenty years ago, in 2001, the Nassar family named their farm Tent of Nations, receiving visitors from around the world to foster a connection between the land and people.

They have dedicated their farm and their family to both peaceful co-existence and sustainable agriculture which they have taught to thousands of volunteers; in 2019, the number of international visitors was close to 10,000. The Nassars also host educational programs for Palestinian women and children in their area. (Photo: this message greets all visitors at the main entrance to the farm)

HELP NEEDED NOW
In 2006, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the Nassars could begin the re-registration of their property; they are required to this because they are in Area C of the West Bank. For fifteen years, the Israeli military and government have repeatedly delayed and stalled that process.

In 2019, the Nassars finally were able to complete the re-registration process!
The Israeli Registration Committee met in February of this year.
The Nassars have been waiting for over 6 months for the results. These cruel delays continue to expose them to severe risk of more confiscation and destruction of their farm.

Settlement expansion and road construction around Tent of Nations have accelerated and are isolating the farm.
(Photo: Boulders block access to the Nassar family farm, Tent of Nations.)

In May 2021, a fire considered to be arson tragically destroyed over 1000 fruit trees (see photo).

In June, Israeli army soldiers entered the land without warning with a bulldozer, destroying approximately 50 fruit trees, an attack that has been committed several times in the past.

The re-registration of the Nassar farm must be completed now! That re-registration will be Israel's official recognition that the Nassars own this land, and it will end their legal struggle.

An important hearing on the re-registration has now been scheduled for 16 January 2023. This was rescheduled from October and November.
CONTACT CONGRESS NOW and urge them to speak out. Their voices can help to save Tent of Nations. Fill out the form below.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

TAKE ACTION

This message will go to your legislators in the Senate and the House.

Subject: Protect Tent of Nations, Palestinian Peace Project

Message:

You may have received this call for your action previously in recent months. It is being repeated because the Israeli government continues to postpone an important hearing for the registration of the land called Tent of Nations, presumably in the hope that the attention of the U.S. diplomatic staff and those of other nations will wane.

As your constituent, I am contacting you about the urgent situation at the Tent of Nations, a remarkable family farm located outside of Bethlehem in the West Bank, which is under threat of confiscation by the Israeli military.

The Nassar family have owned their land since 1916, and they have maintained excellent records of that ownership. Nevertheless, for decades they have been in the Israeli courts defending their land from confiscation.

Though they possess all the necessary documents to prove their ownership, the military has delayed year after year, refusing to reach a final decision on the re-registration of their land. That re-registration would constitute official recognition of their ownership and end their legal struggles.

This farm is a model of sustainable agriculture which provides programs for Palestinian women and children from the area.

Pilgrimage groups and volunteers are welcomed to work with them in planting trees and harvesting crops. Thousands of United Methodists and members of other churches have had wonderful and memorable visits at Tent of Nations.

Tent of Nations is a place where people come together to learn, to share, and rekindle hope in the midst of what seems a hopeless situation.

The Nassar family lives their faith through their nonviolent resistance and in their motto of “refusing to be enemies.” They deserve all the support that we can give them in their uplifting work as they struggle to remain on their land.

ACTION NEEDED
An important hearing on the land registration has been rescheduled twice in the fall of 2022. IT IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 16, 2023.
It is vital that the hearing not be postponed again and that the Nassar family's ownership be upheld.

Therefore I urgently request that you take these two actions:

1. Contact the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC and ask them to takes steps to ensure that the January 16th hearing of the Re-registration Committee is held and that the family’s land is re-registered in their name.

The Re-registration Case Numbers are 3714/2 and 3715/2.

2. Request that the State Department send U.S. officials from the Office of Palestinian Affairs of the US Embassy in Israel to that hearing on January 16th, in support of the Nassar family’s claim.

Tent of Nations is an exemplary endeavor, a valuable contribution to nonviolent co-existence. The Nassars are to be commended and should be supported by those with the power to help them.

Thank you for your CONTINUED attention to this important human rights concern.

Respectfully,

Characters remaining:

Thank you!
SHARE this action on Facebook

SHARE this action on Twitter

🙏🏽 We need your help keep our work going,
until the Palestinian people have the blessings of freedom, justice, and equality.
All donations to UMKR are tax-deductible in the United States.
Consider a MONTHLY donation, a tremendous way to sustain justice work throughout the year.

ONE-TIME GIFT
EVERY size gift is truly appreciated.

MONTHLY GIVING
SIMPLE to cancel at Paypal at any time.

Choose your amount

UMKR is an international grassroots movement of laity and clergy in the United Methodist Church. UMKR seeks – through nonviolent action and in partnership with Christians in Palestine – freedom, justice and equality for all Palestinians and Israelis.
Learn more about UMKR

DONATE BY CHECK
Make your check payable to our fiscal agent:
Open Table of Christ UMC
Please write on the memo line: UMKR
MAIL YOUR DONATION TO:
William Aldrich
42 Gaspee Point Drive
Warwick, RI 02888, USA