Dear Friends, Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly the committee decided “for reasons related to its schedule ” to delay the committee session for the reregistration of the Nassar land from the 27th of October until the 21st of November 2022! We don’t understand why they suddenly discovered after setting the session 6 months ago that their […]
FOTONNA Newsletter October 2022 Update from Daoud Nassar Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, Despite the challenges that we are facing, we are blessed with a growing number of international guests and volunteers who have been visiting us. In the first two weeks of September, we had a group of international volunteers who stayed for […]
Please Act to Support the Tent of Nations: As Daoud has mentioned in his most recent update, the next and hopefully final re-registration hearing has been delayed again until January 16, 2023. FOTONNA believes it is important to continue advocating for TON with our elected officials leading up to the hearing with the Israeli Military […]
November 2022 PHONE CALL AND EMAIL SCRIPT for use with congressional representatives Use these links to obtain the contact information for your elected representatives: · House of Representatives: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative · Senate: https://www.senate.gov/senators/senators-contact.htm?OrderBy%253Dstate%2526Sort%253DASC 1. State why you are calling/emailing: I am contacting you about the urgent situation at the Tent of Nations, a family farm located outside of […]
Update from Daoud Nassar Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, As you might know, the re-registration hearing of the land that was scheduled on May 2nd was postponed and no date was set for the next hearing. We are asking our friends to continue raising awareness about the Tent of Nations among religious and political […]
April 18, 2022 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Easter Greetings from the Tent of Nations! “As HE came near and saw Jerusalem, HE wept over it.” Jesus was sad to see the suffering of the people. Today the situation and especially in Jerusalem is not that different; the city is full of tension, hopelessness, and sadness. […]
April 18, 2022 Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, In our March newsletter we promised an April email with updates on the Re-Registration Hearing scheduled for early May in Israel and information about how you can help. Your solidarity and prayers have buoyed the spirits of Daoud Nassar and his family! Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
Dear Friends of Tent of Nations: I hope my message finds you in good spirits. I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Daher and I are recovering physically. We never expected to be attacked by Palestinians and this continues to […]
Please Continue Advocating about TON with your elected officials! So much has happened since we reached out to you in July last year and asked for your assistance with the “Save Tent of Nations” petition. You and over 3,600 from the U.S. and across the world signed the petition requesting Secretary Blinken to take action. It was […]
Volunteer at the Tent of Nations What Can We Do to Support the Tent of Nations? Many of you have asked this question over the last few months. The physical presence of volunteers on the land is one thing that has protected the land and the family. That presence has been lacking over the past […]
February 13, 2022 Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. We are still recovering physically, but emotionally the pain might accompany us longer. Things are not settled yet, but we believe that justice will prevail. Recently 20 volunteers from Germany and France came to the Tent of […]
Friends: Since the attack on Daoud and Daher we have heard from so many of you of your concern and great love for the family. It has been overwhelming, and we are so grateful for your support of them. Daoud and Daher are beginning to heal – both physically and emotionally from the attack. This […]
Dear Friends, The Nassar family is appalled by the brutal physical attack on Daoud Nassar and Daher Nassar on Friday, January 28, 2022, which left them in a critical condition in a Bethlehem hospital. About fifteen masked individuals from the nearby Palestinian village attacked Daoud and Daher with iron bars, large sticks, and razors. Daoud […]
WCC expresses concern about violence against Christians in Palestinian Authority areas February 3, 2022 World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca called on the Palestinian Authority to investigate recent attacks on Christians in the West Bank, and to ensure justice and dignity for all citizens. “The WCC call follows […]
February 2, 2022 By Jonathan Kuttab, for FOSNA blog. I have been associated with Tent of Nations and the Nassar family for many years. In fact, my law office in Jerusalem has been and continues to represent them in their ongoing legal battles to save their land from the Israeli government and the Jewish settlers who have […]
Carter Center Tweet, 1:53 PM · Feb 1, 2022· 1/ We condemn the attack against Daoud & Daher Nassar and express solidarity with their family and the Tent of Nations, who continue to face threats due to their commitment to peace in Palestine. We urge authorities to protect the family & bring the attackers to justice. […]
January 29, 2022 No doubt many of you have heard about the personal attacks on Daoud and Daher Nassar that took place on the Nassar family farm/Tent of Nations on the morning of Friday, January 28. Several masked men came onto the property and brutally beat Daoud and Daher, sending them both to the hospital […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, D.C. – January 29, 2022 Media Contact: media@cmep.org 202-543-1222 Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls for prayer for Nassar Family and Tent of Nations Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) calls for prayer for the Nassar Family and the Tent of Nations after yesterday’s horrific incident. On the afternoon of […]
YOU ARE INVITED! “THE STORIES I NEVER KNEW”: Acts of Lovingkindness Amidst the Struggle for Human Rights and Dignity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories & Israel A Conversation with William Plitt Moderated by Michael Spath Monday, February 7, 2022 1:00pm Eastern time REGISTER ON ZOOM: icmep.org – Programs and Events in February https://indianacmep.org/event/stories-i-never-knew-william-plitt/ In light of […]
January 28th, 2022 Dear Friends, We learned this morning that Daoud and Daher were attacked by masked individuals at their farm – Tent of Nations. Both sustained injuries that are serious but not life-threatening. Please hold the family close and keep them in your prayers. We will update you as we know more, and determine […]
FOTONNA NEWSLETTER – December 2021 Update from Daoud Nassar Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, Greetings from Bethlehem. I hope this message finds you well and in good health. It is a difficult time for all of us since the pandemic is hitting many countries with a new wave of the virus. At […]
FOTONNA NEWSLETTER – September 2021 Update from Daoud – 15 September 2021 Dear Friends of Tent of Nations, I hope this message finds you well and in good health amid these challenging times. Here in Palestine, the political situation is becoming more difficult following the latest events. The continuous expansion of Israeli settlements across the […]
July 2021 Dear Friend and Supporter of Tent of Nations, You have been a supporter of Tent of Nations or are receiving this message from a friend or colleague who wishes to inform you about this urgent situation. As you know, Tent of Nations is a peace project located on a farm owned for over […]
FOTONNA NEWSLETTER – March 5, 2021 Update from Daoud – March 1, 2021: Greetings from the Tent of Nations! We are facing the third wave of Covid 19. Every day we hear about new cases, the hospitals are full of patients and some are in critical situation. We have closures on Fridays and Saturdays, and […]
FOTONNA NEWSLETTER – December 16, 2020 Daoud and Jihan and the entire Nassar family would love to hear from all of you. A Post Card – not a letter – sent to the following address with a Christmas greeting or even just a note of support would be an uplifting gesture from each of you. […]
Note from Bill Plitt: Dear Friends, As you will see in this letter from Daoud that conditions on the farm and surrounding area are desperate; we are not yet certain as to the reasons why this is happening. One thing we do know is that the U.S. policy towards the region, plus the repercussions of the […]
Dear Friends, This will be an update on the following items: EASTER GREETINGS FROM DAOUD: Dear Sisters and Brothers, I hope my message to you finds you well and in good health during these uncertain times as Covid-19 paves its way rapidly across our communities and societies affecting our daily lives, altering social, political and economic […]
Dear Friends, This will be an update on the following items: Advisory Council meeting on November 17, 2019/Update from Daoud Notice about both Spring and Fall 2020 Tours Reflections from Fall Tour 2019 Museum of the Palestinian People – August 2020 Tour Invitation Advisory Council Meeting – November 17, 2019 Once again, Daoud gave a moving and […]
– September 30, 2019 – Dear Friends, Daoud has added an update (below) on what has been happening on the farm through the actions (or inactions) of the military courts. You may recall from the last two NLs that in December 2018, demolition orders had been placed on the land in a corner section that […]
March 18, 2019 – This will be less a Newsletter and more like a short TON update in addition to giving you all a new mailing address (temporary) for donations or other communications. Here is the latest message sent to our Advisory Council Members: March 8, 2019 Dear Friends, It’s been some time since you […]
Dear Friends, Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we move on to the coming of Christmas and the ringing in of a New Year 2019. We have much to be thankful for, and among those gifts is the fact that the Tent of Nations still stands as a bright, shining star outside Bethlehem – a […]
On November 16, 2018, Beth (our FOTONNA Tour Coordinator), Daoud and I returned home after an eight-day trip across southern and central Virginia, sharing the story of the Nassar family’s persistent stand in claiming their ancestral lands through a simple message of “refusing to be enemies/loving our neighbor” and doing so through a creative non-violent […]
Friends of Tent of Nations, North America Newsletter – Summer/Fall 2018 – October 3, 2018 Dear Friends, I want to apologize for the long delay in getting news out to you about Tent of Nations. I have been laid up after left hip replacement surgery in mid-July due to the fact that my sciatic nerve […]
Since 1998, undergraduate, graduate and alumni groups from Eastern Mennonite University and Eastern Mennonite Seminary have made the Tent of Nations farm outside of Bethlehem a regular stop on their Middle East trips. Several hundred have visited the Nassar family’s 100 acres in Palestine to plant trees, harvest olives and fruit, and learn about the family’s witness to […]
A Green, Flexible, Temporary Wall Installed on the Land I flew to Palestine on October 3 and returned on October 11 for my regular, annual visit to the Nassar family farm. I was joined by Beth Moore, our Tour Coordinator; we were there to represent Friends of Tent of Nations North America (FOTONNA) at the […]
The Nassar family, Distinguished Guests, Sisters and Brothers, It is a singular honor, joy, and privilege to greet you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The presence of Archbishop Chacour, a recipient of the World Methodist Peace Award makes this even a more special moment. The Vice-President, Ms Gillian Kingston and […]
FOTONNA/TON Winter 2018 Newsletter Dear Friends, Please check out the following: Daoud will be traveling in Arizona with Beth Moore and Bill Plitt for the Spring 2018 Tour. Here is the schedule of presentations. WE REFUSE TO BE ENEMIES A conversation with Daoud Nassar, Palestinian Christian farmer and Director of Tent of Nations. Located […]
In June, three members of the Franciscan society, a group of related mendicant religious orders within the Catholic Church, founded in 1209 by Saint Francis of Assisi, applied for scholarships to travel to the Holy Land and visit the holy sites there as well to work as volunteers at the Tent of Nations for two-three […]
Tent of Nations Lutheran Palestinian brothers welcome all to family farm Wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to shade himself from the early May sun, Daoud Nassar strolls down the dusty path on his family’s 101-year-old hilltop farm. In every direction he looks, he can see the ever-expanding Israeli settlements with their white multistory buildings […]
Suad ________, 49 Where I Am From… I am from the countryside, Close to the manger of Jesus Christ, And the place where Mohammad ascended. I am from the innocent childhood, From the fields of oranges, olives, and za’tar. The birds are singing every morning, From above the olive trees That are holding tight to […]
Dear Friends, VOLUNTEERING: High school students look for gap-year experiences; retired people look for short-term volunteer projects; college students look for international travel experiences for credit or for internships; people between jobs look for something new and different to add to their résumés; many people are searching for meaningful ways to make a difference in […]
Rihab _____, 43 Where I Am From… I am from this big world. From this childhood, deprivation and affection. From a loved, affectionate and faithful family. I am from a warm winter full of heavy rain. From a wonderful summer and shining sun. I am from fear, suppression, anger and fearful voices during the dark […]
Season’s Greetings from the Nassar Family and FOTONNA December 2017 Pine Tree Planted by Beverly Hunter at TON – TON Volunteer; FOTONNA Advisory Council Member In Memoriam – November 2017 December 15, 2017 Dear Friends, Greetings from Bethlehem. It is a very difficult and critical time we are going through these days. Hopelessness and […]
Maitha’ _______, 38 Where I Am From… I am from peace and anxiety, I am from the roar of the waterfall, I am from the tramp of feet on the bridge. On the other side of the bridge, My grandmother was watching; The vineyards, olive trees, hanoun and wildflowers. From where am I? From a deep […]
Tent of Nations People Building Bridges November 15, 2017 Friends – This will be less a Newsletter and more an update on items of importance at this time. I will keep it brief. WEBSITE UPDATE: We have finally updated the FOTONNA website. Our apologies for taking so long to do this! You will find […]
Abstract The political and economic geography of occupied Palestinian territory presents significant constraints to the livelihoods of Palestinian families. And yet the story of many Palestinian families is one not of resignation but of steadfastness and resistance. This article explores this as an important example of civil resistance. It begins by building a theoretical case […]
Poem from a participant in the Interfaith Peace-Builder’s Fall 2017 Tour: The Reality of a Dream Called Zion | Simi Toledano – Brooklyn, New York The reality of a dream called Zion is standing on the concrete island between east and west Jerusalem, waiting for the light to turn green. I stand and wait and […]
See complete stories at: IFPB.org. – Nov. 2017 Why Are You Here? | Amirah Abu Lughod – Stony Point, New York Over the mountains, over the sea and through Israeli security… “Are you with this group? Please go to the waiting area miss, we need to do another check on your passport. “Why are you […]
Sahar _____, 35 Where I Am From… I am a girl of the mountains, A girl of Palestine, A girl of hope… From my beautiful childhood and successful life From something that is not something, Whenever there is a window that is closed, God opens another window in the sky, From where am I…? From […]
Except for the COVID-19 pandemic time since March 2020, volunteers have always been needed for to help out on the Nassar family farm. As soon as travel is possible again, post-pandemic, international volunteers will be needed and welcomed again. Stay tuned for announcements when travel re-opens! In addition to supporting the actual work carried out […]