Methodist Church expresses concern at court decision for Tent of Nations
16 October 2026
The Methodist Church has expressed its grave concern at a decision by an Israeli Military Committee imposing conditions on the Tent of Nations in Palestine which threatens the community's existence.
The Tent of Nations is a 100-acre farm six miles southwest of Bethlehem and a Christian educational and ecological centre that promotes peace over hatred in the region.
On 8 October 2026, an Israeli Military Committee rejected the farm's land registration application.
Established in 1916, the Nassar family have been welcoming people from around the world, including many Methodists, for decades. The land was purchased more than 100 years ago by the Nassar family, who hold original registration and deed documents dating from the British Mandate. In 2017, the farm received the World Methodist Peace Award.
Recently, the family has experienced restrictions on access to their land. The farm stands alone as a site of hope in a valley where illegal Israeli settlements have encroached on land held for generations by Palestinians.
The situation illustrates the difficult circumstances faced by Palestinians in the West Bank, where the illegal occupation of the territory has contributed to settler violence and the ethnic cleansing of many areas, with these actions often going unchallenged by the Israeli government.
The Methodist Church will be working with its ecumenical partners and others to respond to the court's decision and to support the Nassar family and the Tent of Nations.
We pray for the Nassar family, for the Tent of Nations and for all those who seek peace and justice.