“No one will force me to hate anyone else”
“When we come to cut down our olive trees, we replant others afterwards. » The man who speaks this way is Daoud Nassar. This Lutheran Christian Palestinian, settled with his family for more than a century at the top of a small hill south of Bethlehem, now finds himself surrounded by five Israeli settler sites. An increasingly problematic cohabitation, as the violence and pressures multiply on his family and this project. “Since the attacks of October 7, the situation has gotten even worse. Violent attacks by settlers have increased and three roads have been built here, two of which pass directly through our land. »
But the man decided not to give in. Neither to violence, nor to victimization, nor to discouragement. “It’s my faith as a Christian that pushes me to do this. Following Jesus, non-violent resistance to evil is essential to me. Because I believe in justice; and that I know that one day Christ will return. » Hope is needed here. Although they have lived on this land for four generations, the Nassar family is waging a long-term administrative battle with the Israeli authorities to have their property rights recognized and thus prevent any future privatization of the land.
Daoud lives here with his mother, his three children and some of his nine brothers and sisters. “Those who have not gone abroad,” he specifies. But for my part, I decided to refuse to be a victim and therefore to act rather than react to events. I also refuse to hate others. No one can force me to do it. » Daoud’s 40-hectare farm has become, over the years, a school of non-violence, offering training workshops and summer camps for children. “We also welcome international volunteers. Their presence among us provides very valuable protection. »