By Dana Jones

Tent of Nations farm owner, 28 October 2013, © Dana E. Jones

Daher Nassar’s grandfather — also named Daher Nassar — purchased the land that is home to the Tent of Nations in 1916. Since then, the family has worked the land by day and slept in caves on the property at night. In 1991, the Israeli government declared Daher Nassar’s property and the surrounding area as property of the Israeli state. Settlements — five today — began springing up all around the area, but Daher Nassar refuses to leave. He has been embroiled in constant court battles that continue today. Unlike many Palestinians, Daher Nassar has paperwork showing his family owns the land. He has established the land as the Tent of Nations, named in part for the fact he cannot get permission to build a permanent residence on the site. In recent years, his battle has come to the attention of justice workers from around the world, who offer many volunteer hours to help work the land and maintain the property as it has been for years. Standing on the highest portions of the land, you can see five Israeli settlements. Among many signs of hope at the Tent of Nations is the large number of olive trees that have been planted. There is solar power, composting toilets and a green house made of recycled plastic bottles. Participants of the Living Stones Pilgrimage arrived just after the olive harvest had been completed.

28 October 2013, © Dana E. Jones

Tent of Nations, 28 October 2013, © Dana E. Jones