We are deeply disappointed to inform you and members of your community that we have had to make the difficult decision to shorten the Spring 2015 tour of Tent of Nations. We are always very reluctant to cancel any Tour.  We know how important these moments are for strengthening your community’s understanding of the struggle, and how important the support is that Daoud receives from the people gathered at such events.

As you know, the Nassar family has been fighting in the Israeli courts since 1991 to retain their ownership of the family’s land which was originally purchased and registered in 1916.  The local authorities in the Gush Etzion Settlement area, in which the Tent of Nations is located, are now requiring the land be re-registered for the fourth time, and have placed new requirements on the family to provide additional evidence in their application.  The deadline for doing so is April 21^st.

Continually shortened times allowed for response to these requirements are making it more difficult for Daoud to be away from the land, and the family is fearful that some kind of unforeseen action will be taken against the land, and think this is more likely if he is out of the country.

As you know, life under the occupation is not only oppressive, but unpredictable for Palestinians.  The rules often change on the spur of the moment.  It’s amazing how resilient the Palestinian people have been under such circumstances.   We hope you will continue to lift up the Nassar family and all Palestinians in your prayer and action.

We also would an invitation to come to your community in the Fall.  If there is interest in such an opportunity, let us know.  Beth Moore, our Tour Director, will be contacting you in the near future about this possibility.

Again, on behalf of the Steering Committee of The Friends of Tent of Nations North America we are grateful for your willingness to host the tour, acknowledge the tremendous amount of work you have put in to making it happen, and hope that in the near future, we might be invited to join you in your work for peace with justice in Palestine/Israel.

Gratefully,

Bill Plitt, Executive Director

Friends of Tent of Nations North America

Daoud Nasser from Tent of Nations
Presented by the NT-NL Public Witness Team–Peace Not Walls

Palestinian Lutheran Daoud Nasser will share the message of Tent of Nations April 19, at 6:30 P.M., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ft. Worth and April 21 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Dallas. Mr. Nasser is from Bethlehem and a member of Christmas Lutheran Church there. He is a leader in the Tent of Nations organization.

Tent of Nations seeks to prepare young people in Palestine to make positive contributions to their society through the values of understanding and peaceful coexistence. The organic farm where the education and work camps take place is under threat of confiscation by the Israeli military. It is about 33 miles southwest of Bethlehem.

In May 2014, the Israeli military bulldozed 1,500 productive fruit trees growing on the Nasser farm. Daoud Nasser will explain the challenges facing his family’s farming efforts from the military and surrounding Israeli settlements. Read more about it here: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/emergentvillage/2014/11/we-refuse-to-be-enemies/

Daoud Nasser’s presentation is part of NT-NL’s participation in the ELCA strategy: Peace Not Walls: Stand for Justice in the Holy Land.

For more information, contact Terry Guy at 214-348-9690 or churchoffice@bethany.net.