Tuesday, July 14, 2026

MIFTAH: Targeting the Witness Not the Crime... The issue is no longer confined to Palestine. It becomes a question about the future of international law and accountability for EVERYONE. Protection of civil society, lawyers, and human rights defenders is NOT OPTIONAL, it is essential for truth, justice, and the demand for accountability

Tent of Nations (ToN) is an educational and ecological family farm committed to nonviolent resistance, environmental stewardship, intercultural education, and connecting people with the land. It serves as a living model of nonviolent action and faith-based community building, within the context of Palestine and the world.

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES (or quotes or watch videos) IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine]

https://tentofnations.com/

The Tent of Nations is an educational and ecological family farm southwest of Bethlehem, Palestine. Our mission is to build bridges between people and between people and the land. Through creative resistance, organic farming, and educational programs, we seek to transform despair into hope and promote understanding, respect, and sustainability.

What we do

– Educational Programs: Children’s summer camps and women’s empowerment initiatives.

– Volunteer Opportunities: Join short-term or long-term projects caring for the land and community.

– Environmental Learning: Workshops in sustainability, organic farming, and renewable energy.

Please note that we are not an NGO. We are a small educational and environmental family farm that welcomes individuals and groups to visit, to volunteer and to be encouraged to hear our story of hope in the middle of this darkness. We are not affiliated with any organization and we are supported by church groups and other international private friends of ToN.

Our Philosophy

In the face of injustice, we refuse to be enemies. We transform pain into positive action and work for justice and peace from the ground up. We believe every person can help shape a better future by caring for one another and for the earth.

We want to help the oppressed and marginalized realize that they are powerful and can do something positive, even if they live under challenging conditions. We all have the task of creating the future with our own hands and not waiting for others to do it for us. At the ToN, we aim to collaborate with others and lay the groundwork for a better future, believing that justice and peace should emerge from the grassroots. At ToN, we connect people with the land and to our shared environment. We need them to appreciate this wonderful gift that GOD gave to humanity, and to help protect it for the generations to come.

Vision for the land

We continue to strive for self-sufficiency in food, water, and energy, building an Environmental Education Center where young people can learn about sustainability, tolerance, and community responsibility.

https://tentofnations.com/about-us/

About Us: Rooted in the Land Since 1916

The Tent of Nations stands on a 100-acre (about 400 dunams) family farm named Daher’s Vineyard, located about six miles (about 10 km) southwest of Bethlehem in the West Bank. The land was purchased more than 100 years ago by the Nassar family, and the family holds original registrations and deed documents dating from the British Mandate (registration in 1924-25), and Jordanian administration.

In 1991, the Israeli authorities declared the Nassar family farm (and surrounding lands) as “state land”. Since then, the family has engaged in protracted legal proceedings in the Israeli Military courts, the Appeals Committee, and the Israeli Supreme Court to re-register and protect their land.

The farm is surrounded on all sides by Israeli settlements, including those in the Gush Etzion settlement block. the farm has faced repeated road encroachments, bulldozing and burning of orchards, and access restrictions.... READ MORE https://tentofnations.com/about-us/

Who We Are

Tent of Nations (ToN) is an educational and ecological family farm committed to nonviolent resistance, environmental stewardship, intercultural education, and connecting people with the land. It serves as a living model of nonviolent action and faith-based community building, within the context of Palestine and the world.

We host international visitors, volunteers, and local partners who come to learn, share, and participate in our work. Together, we transform despair into hope through environmental education, organic farming, empowerment programs for women and children, and global solidarity.

Our Mission

Our mission is to build bridges between people and between people and the land through creative resistance, education, and environmental stewardship. We strive to cultivate understanding, respect, and sustainability by working in harmony with the land and with one another.

We live by four guiding principles:

We refuse to be victims
We refuse to hate
We act on our faith
We believe in justice

These principles shape every act of cultivation, teaching, and welcome that happens on the farm encompassed by the slogan We Refuse to Be the Enemy.

Our Vision

We envision the Tent of Nations as a beacon of hope and sustainability – a place where individuals and communities learn to live in harmony with the environment and each other.... READ MORE https://tentofnations.com/about-us/

https://www.facebook.com/tentofnations

"The Nasser family are a Palestinian Christian family who have owned this farm for over 100 years. But 35 years ago, the Israeli authorities declared his farm and the surrounding area to be State land. Ever since then, the family have been engaged in a struggle to register and protect their farm. And with each passing year, settlements encroach on more and more of their land. But the Nassars continue their Tent of Nations work with steadfast nonviolence and faith, living their message every day: “We refuse to be enemies.” They are an example of creative, hopeful, Christian resistance to injustice and they need the support of Christians around the world. During my visit today I had the honour of planting an olive tree on the Nasser farm. At a time when many Palestinian Christians are leaving, olive trees are a symbol of their deep roots in this land..." Sarah Mullally, Archbishop of Canterbury

Archbishop Sarah visits the Tent of Nations in Bethlehem. Photo credit Andrea Krogmann/Lambeth Palace

Rock commemorating the olive tree planted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo credit Andrea Krogmann/Lambeth Palace

Archbishop of Canterbury

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Today on our pilgrimage we met with the Nasser family on their farm, now commonly known as the Tent of Nations - located south of Bethlehem in occupied Palestine.

The Nasser family are a Palestinian Christian family who have owned this farm for over 100 years. But 35 years ago, the Israeli authorities declared his farm and the surrounding area to be State land.

Ever since then, the family have been engaged in a struggle to register and protect their farm. And with each passing year, settlements encroach on more and more of their land.

But the Nassars continue their Tent of Nations work with steadfast nonviolence and faith, living their message every day: “We refuse to be enemies.”

They are an example of creative, hopeful, Christian resistance to injustice and they need the support of Christians around the world.

During my visit today I had the honour of planting an olive tree on the Nasser farm. At a time when many Palestinian Christians are leaving, olive trees are a symbol of their deep roots in this land.

As this tree grows, I pray that peace grows too in Palestine and Israel. Please pray for the Nasser family, Palestinian Christians and all those working for a just peace in the Holy Land.

Archbishop Sarah with the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Revd Hosam Naoum, at St George’s Anglican Cathedral in East Jerusalem. Photo credit Lambeth Palace https://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/node/32/pastoral-letter-archbishop-sarah-mullally-and-archbishop-hosam-naoum

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1614819453347626&set=pcb.1614820073347564

In Israel’s prisons, torture and death have become a norm that it barely tries to hide: The suffering of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya is no isolated case. The abuse of Palestinian detainees is happening in plain sight, yet nothing changes

A rally in Tel Aviv calling for the release of detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, 6 July 2026. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Nesrine Malik in The Guardian

“This is the end. I don’t see myself surviving. They brought me here to kill me.” These were the words of Dr Hussam Abu Safiya to his lawyer earlier this month. Abu Safiya was the director of the Kamal Adwan hospital in northern Gaza. Eighteen months ago he was seized by Israeli forces and has since been held without charge or trial. He reports being struck with hammers and batons, daily beatings and loss of consciousness. The latest images of him show a much gaunter man than the one who had been the voice of besieged healthcare workers in Gaza, doing their jobs in impossible circumstances.

In June, Abu Safiya was transferred to Rakefet prison, an underground facility first built to hold senior organised crime figures, then closed on the grounds that it was inhumane. It was reopened in late 2023 by the far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Abu Safiya and the other Palestinian prisoners there never see daylight, a violation of the Geneva conventions. Across the Palestinian territories and Israel, about 3,500 prisoners like him are held under “administrative detention” that can be renewed every six months, indefinitely. Nearly 200 of them are children. Once a Palestinian is detained under these rules, they are essentially abducted by the state.

“Real hell” is what is experienced once detained. Ali al-Samoudi, a Palestinian journalist, was released earlier this year, unrecognisable. He had lost 60kg, about half of his body weight. “Prison today is hell in every sense of the word,” he told CNN. “Everything they practised with us was punishment and revenge.”

The scale of abuse, torture and death in Israeli prisons is well documented... READ MORE https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/13/israel-prison-torture-death-hussam-abu-safiya-palestine

Sunday, July 12, 2026

HOPE... a universal need in uncertain times. Let's pause, reflect, and recommit to shared humanity and belief in tomorrow.

United Nations Geneva

@UNGeneva

Today is #HopeDay — a reminder that hope, even in hardship, remains a transformative force. It can bridge divides, drive progress, and uplift the human spirit.

Let's pause, reflect, and recommit to shared humanity and belief in tomorrow.

buff.ly/OByxUdl

In a world facing growing unrest, widening social divisions, and persistent economic and environmental challenges, the global community continues to seek values that unite rather than divide. Among these, hope stands out as a deeply powerful and universally resonant force. Recognizing this, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 12 July as the International Day of Hope—a day to celebrate and promote hope as a guiding principle for individuals, communities, and nations alike.

This resolution draws upon the enduring values of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which call for peace, dignity, tolerance, and shared progress. It builds on earlier UN initiatives—such as the International Day of Conscience—by highlighting the essential role hope plays in promoting well-being, mutual respect, social stability, and sustainable development.

The declaration of the International Day of Hope is more than symbolic—it is a global invitation to act. It calls on Member States, regional and international bodies, civil society, and individuals to cultivate environments where hope can thrive... READ MORE https://www.un.org/en/observances/hope-day

Saturday, July 11, 2026

RED CROSS ICRC: In armed conflicts, AI systems can fail, be manipulated or produce unreliable results. That is why decisions involving the use of force must remain under meaningful human control. Machines may support judgement. They must never replace human responsibility.

https://www.icrc.org/en/article/faq-artificial-intelligence-in-military-domain

Frequently asked questions: Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the military domain

An arms race is underway in the development and deployment of new technologies in warfare, including artificial intelligence (AI). Rather than making battlefields safer for civilians, these technologies often increase risks and cause significant harm.

What is AI in the military domain?

AI in the military domain refers to the use of artificial intelligence in military systems and operations, including autonomous weapon systems, military decision-support systems, cyber operations and capabilities, logistics, surveillance and intelligence analysis.

Does international humanitarian law apply to AI in warfare?

Yes. IHL applies to all means and methods of warfare, including the use of AI technologies. Any use of force must comply with IHL principles and rules, such as distinction (between civilians and civilian objects on the one hand, and combatants and military objectives on the other), proportionality and precautions.

Why is the ICRC concerned about the use of AI in the military domain?

The ICRC is concerned that the use of AI in the military could accelerate the pace and scale of warfare, increase unpredictability and reduce human control over the use of force, creating serious risks for civilians.

AI systems are particularly vulnerable to failure in adversarial environments, where opponents may deliberately try to deceive or manipulate the systems, such as by tampering with data or exploiting weaknesses.

The ICRC emphasizes a human-centred approach because humans – not machines – remain legally responsible for decisions involving the use of force. Human judgement is essential to ensuring compliance with IHL and protecting civilians. AI systems should support human decision-making, rather than impair or replace it.

What are the main applications of AI in the military domain which raise particular concern?

The ICRC has identified three applications of AI in the military domain that pose significant risks:

Autonomous Weapon Systems (AWS): these systems, once activated, can autonomously select and engage targets without further human intervention.
AI Decision-Support Systems: these systems process vast amounts of data to assist military decision-making, but they carry risks related to inherent unreliability and unpredictability, as well as human over-reliance on the system’s outputs.
AI in Information and Communication Technologies: AI is increasingly being used in cyber operations and integrated in cyber capabilities, with the potential to increase the scale of cyber-attacks, while also changing their nature and severity, especially in terms of adverse impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Can technology companies become military targets if they support military operations?

Under IHL, technology companies and their employees are, prima facie, civilian objects and are protected against attack. Such protection can, however, be lost if the company’s personnel carry out certain activities or if the company’s property is used in certain ways. For instance, where specific tech company infrastructure or services are used by a warring party to make an effective contribution to military action and its total or partial destruction, capture or neutralization, in the circumstances ruling at the time, offers a definite military advantage to the adversary, it becomes a military objective.

The ICRC therefore encourages technology companies to carefully assess how their products and services might be used in armed conflict. Companies should also take steps to avoid contributing to violations of IHL and to mitigate the risks their technologies may pose to civilians.... READ MORE https://www.icrc.org/en/article/faq-artificial-intelligence-in-military-domain

ICRC

@ICRC

In armed conflicts, AI systems can fail, be manipulated or produce unreliable results. That is why decisions involving the use of force must remain under meaningful human control.

Machines may support judgement. They must never replace human responsibility.

Learn more: ms.spr.ly/6012vIxvq

https://x.com/ICRC/status/2075565708369334651/photo/1

Annie's New Letters (& notes)

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