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As always, we want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment. Without that, hope would fade from the hearts and minds of so many of us. To those of you who took time to write a note of support through our website, when things looked darkest, thank you a thousand fold! These letters from all around the world made a vast impression on people at the Consulate in Jerusalem, the American Embassy in Tel Aviv and the State Department in the U.S. The messages were a composite based on personal interactions with the Nassar family and people who were simply moved by his presentations here and abroad. Please keep up your diligence as we continue to monitor the situation on the ground and see Daoud’s update at the end of this Newsletter. We will still need your amazing commitment down the road – and amazing it truly is! The next battle may be over road/wall construction that continues unabated in Area C of the West Bank. We will keep you posted as soon as we have confirmed details. UPDATED INFORMATION ON HOW YOU AND YOUR CHURCH/ORGANIZATION CAN HELP: As you can see, people have, once again, been very generous. Please see where you and your group can fill in the remaining gaps in Daoud’s list of these one-time projects. If the cost seems beyond your group’s reach, remember that others can pick up the balance. See which project(s) your group would like to support then let Kay Plitt (kayplitt@comcast.net) know your first and second choices and the amount you can commit. We will update the list on our website as projects are financed. Checks should be made out to: FOTONNA - Mailed to: FOTONNA – c/o Kay Plitt – 5621 N. 9th Road – Arlington, VA 22205. Remember: Expenses for the usual projects are still ongoing.
GRANT FROM UNITED PALESTINIAN APPEAL - The Nassars have received a generous grant from the United Palestinian Appeal (UPA) for a groundbreaking Sustainable Agriculture Training project. This is a project that will start in September/October 2010 with about 35 local farmers. The grant supports classes in organic farming, greenhouse gardening, farming for profit, grape vineyard farming, tree care and fruit tree farming, medicinal use of plants and herbs, vegetable farming and animal husbandry. Two part-time agronomists and a part-time director would coordidnate the classes in conjunction with Bethlehem University’s Science Department. UPA has generously granted $59,625 for the start-up of this project. However, the cost of office supplies, additional computer, copy machine, phones, graduation, evaluation, etc. was not covered (projected to be about $14,500). We are seeking matching funds to make up the difference! Contact GJ Tarazi, Executive Director – GJ@helpupa.com - if you can help with this funding. We are all grateful for this support and show of confidence in Tent of Nations from UPA, HLCS, Trinity Presbyterian and Trinity Episcopal Churches and the Chicago, Illinois group!! DAOUD HAS A NEW/USED BACKHOE! (Perseverance pays off!) Daoud has also finally found a used backhoe that is being serviced at this point. It should be on the land within the next few weeks, and the past owner will be demonstrating how to use it safely. Your contributions towards this purchase totaling almost $15,000 have finally paid off! Again, we thank you for your generosity over the last several years as the search for this essential piece of equipment has finally been successful! FALL 2010 U.S. TOUR The Fall 2010 Tour is coming up! Here is the tentative schedule: St. Bonaventure University – Olean, NY – Nov. 3 This is still a work in progress. We will post a final schedule with details in our October Newsletter. If you live in the areas where we have Open Dates and would like to book a presentation, please let us know as soon as possible –kayplitt@comcast.net. SUMMER READING! Another reminder of two books you could read before summer reading becomes a thing of the past. Though they are markedly different in approach, these books complement one another beautifully. Mark Braverman’s Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land FINALLY, THIS PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM DAOUD NASSAR – August 18, 2010 Dear Friends, Thank you so much for your phone calls, your E-mails and your concerns about the situation of the Tent of Nations. It is wonderful to see people like you who are committed to support the Tent of Nation’s struggle for justice. Our latest news was about the legal actions we took in order to stop the demolishing orders for our renovations and structures. We brought this case to the Israeli Supreme Court and our appeal to freeze the demolishing orders was accepted. This freeze was also because of the pressure that came from all over the world. Your E-mails and responses made a big difference; thank you so much for your solidarity. The Supreme Court gave the Israeli authorities a time limit of 60 days, through the 3rd of August, to comment on our protest. The 60 days limit passed over, and we didn't hear yet anything from the Israeli Authorities. The demolishing orders are now frozen. According to the law, the Israeli Authorities are not allowed to take actions and demolish our structures before the Supreme Court makes a decision about that. In order for the Supreme Court to decide, the Israeli Military Authority has to respond to our appeal against the demolishing orders. At the time the Military Authority responds to the Supreme Court, our Lawyer will receive a time limit to appeal against whatever the Israeli Military Authority is giving for reasons why to demolish our renovations and structures. This process is going to take between one and two years before the Israeli Supreme Court will come to a decision. The whole process is going to cost us more than $15,000 for legal fees. We are going on and defending our rights legally, even if it is hard, long and costly. We hope and pray that, at the end, justice will prevail. We would like to ask you to stay in touch with us and inform others about our case. I will let you know if and when actions may need to be taken from your side. Please keep us in your daily prayers. Thank you so much for all your support and solidarity. Blessings and Salaam, Daoud Note: If you are receiving this Newsletter by mail, it would be very helpful if you would be willing to send us your E-mail information so we could share the NL electronically. We do not share your E-mail information with anyone. There are about 200+ names on our snail-mail list which translates into about 3-4 hours of our time and around $100+ for stamps and paper/envelopes for each mailing (about $500+ a year that we donate to FOTONNA). You could simply send us an email with the information to: kayplitt@comcast.net. If you want your name removed from our list, just let us know. Thank you, as always – FOTONNA Steering Committee
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