“We refuse to be enemies.”  Today we had the privilege of visiting the Nassar family at their farm, Tent of Nations.  Again and again, they repeated their motto as they told their story, “we refuse to be enemies”…”we are not leaving our land and we are not reacting”…”if we react the circle of violence never ends”…”we refuse to be enemies”…”we are people who believe in justice”…”we continue our struggle with three basic things: faith, hope, and love”…”we refuse to be enemies.”

Hearing about all this family has been though during the last 33 years to protect their land, hearing this phrase, “we refuse to be enemies” was jarring, inspiring, and heartbreaking.  How could this be possible in the face of so much violence?  And yet, “we refuse to be enemies.”

A grape vine on the farm

I keep wondering what it would be like if we all refused to be enemies?  What is being asked of us with this phrase?  What might be possible if we really lived it?  I have no answers, but in the midst of a day filled with much polarization, side-taking, and stances pushing toward violence, the Nassar’s stance of refusing to be enemies felt like a revolution.

To learn more about Tent of Nations please go to https://tentofnations.com/about-us/.

One of the five illegal settlements that surround the Tent of Nations

~Celene Lillie

Looking down at playground playground at Wi’am, the separation wall behind, and Aida Refugee Camp in distance

We are in Bethlehem and experienced a powerful day starting with an orientation at Wi’am: The Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center. The Director Zoughbi Al Zoubi is always so inspiring. His lifelong study and commitment to non-violence and restorative justice always impresses me. Wi’am helps the local community that is so stressed due to the occupation. There are women’s groups, youth groups, and children’s summer camps that support the locals and many internationals such as our group come to learn about the situation here. Some thoughts and ideas that caught my mind today included “there is no way out except to learn to live together (Israeli’s and Palestinians), all human life is holy, and we need to help the weak be strong and the strong to their sense’s… not their knees”.

A researcher at Wi’am talking to us about the museum at the Palestinian Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability at the Bethlehem University.

Another inspiring visit was the Palestinian Institute of Biodiversity. Their work is so important in this time of Climate Crisis to prevent the further loss of species. It’s disturbing how much habitat is being lost to the rapid settlement expansions.

We also visited Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel and museum and looked at the graffiti art on the separation wall. This graffiti art of Ahed Tamimi, a Palestinian teenager who was imprisoned for 6 months for slapping a soldier who was arresting her cousin. She turned 17 in prison. I was so happy to learn she is currently studying to be a layer in London!

Brenda Mehos