By Jane Fox and Janet Fasel

Susan, Duncan, Daoud and Usama at the Tent of Nations Camp

How can you run and maintain a farm without water, electricity and a building permit? Daoud (David) Nassar and his family have struggled for 24 years in the Israeli court system and spent $176,000 so far in legal fees to fight for the 100 acres bought by his grandfather during the Ottoman period. The land was properly registered and documents were kept. The family has continued to live on and farm the land for three generations.

The road to the Tent of Nations Camp, as they call the farm, is strewn with garbage, potholes and large boulders in an effort to separate the family from their inherited land located in Area C of the West Bank. They have been threatened with guns; road construction has been halted; 250 olive trees have been destroyed. In May 2014, three bulldozers destroyed all their fruit trees with only a singular fig tree remaining as the “steadfast witness”.

David said they could react in three ways: with violence, sitting and crying, or running away and leaving. He and his family chose another path… nonviolent and peaceful. They refuse to be victims. They refuse to hate. They believe in justice. “We refuse to be enemies.” Faith is their core issue. They invest their frustrations positively. While continuing their legal battle, they open the farm for people to “Come and See” and “Go and Tell”. They are committed to building a bridge between land and people.

Since 2009 they have utilized solar energy, collected 200,000 gallons of rainwater to use each year, practiced recycling and still continue to farm the land. Future plans include installing wind turbines and making bio-gas out of compost. As David said, “We need to invest our hope in ourselves.” In an effort to make the farm self-sustainable, they will plant 3,000 grape vines in the fall of 2015. Planned activities include summer camp for children, harvest camps, and projects empowering women which include teaching classes in English, computer and art.

David indicated that international presence has given them hope. The circle of volunteers and visitors is widening. International student groups, Christian pilgrims, European Jews for a Just Peace in Palestine, American Jews for Nonviolence, rabbis from the Encounter Group, to name a few, have all received David’s invitation to “Come and See” and “Go and Tell”.

Janet, Amal, and Jane at the Tent of Nations Camp

David’s sister Amal Nassar, a pediatric physical therapist who also works with the local women’s groups, is one of 300 world leaders invited to speak at the June 2015 Sojourners Summit in Washington, DC. She exemplifies the Tent of Nations’ vision to “plan big, but walk in small steps.” Faith, love, and hope are the foundations.