The Roots Camp was held for the 19th consecutive year on the land of the displaced village of Iqrit from the morning of Tuesday 12\8\2014 and continued until the afternoon of Saturday 16\8\2014.

Approximately one hundred participants from the third grade and above participated in the camp, and they were divided into four teams under the guidance of an elite group of guides who received a training course over the course of three weeks before the camp.

The camp was characterized by calm, cleanliness, order, and committed artistic activities. The participants also took a tour around the village under the guidance of the village’s son, Mr. Fawzi Nasser Hanna, during which they had lunch in nature.

A large number of visitors and delegations came in solidarity with the villagers, including Knesset member Dr. Basil Ghattas and writer Nimer Nimer, who in turn gave a lecture on recruitment. A group of artists also presented several workshops for the participants, especially the artist Cecile Kahili, the artist Manal Marcus, and the artist Hamoudi Ghanem. A number of the villagers participated in the activities, especially brother Nasser Hanna presenting a scouting activity and Mr. Fawzi Hanna presenting the evening “Tales from my Country” and the evening “Jerusalem, the Gate of Heaven”. In addition, Mrs. Nahil Taama presented an activity to contemplate the stars in the clear sky of Iqrith. The storyteller Abdul Hakim Samara narrated stories in his own way on the third evening of the camp.

Dr. Ibrahim Atallah, a son of the village, narrated the history of the issue to the participants of all generations in audio and video with a computerized display inside the church building.

A wonderful musical performance was also held on the last evening presented by the artists Rula Azar and Mira Azar, where the name of the village of Iqrith was set on fire to the tune of the song “I Write Your Name, My Country” presented by the Zaarour band, which is the youngest band in the camp. Then the Mai and Melh band performed committed songs, followed by a theatrical performance by the Musfa al-Hawa band. The closing was the Palestinian wedding presented by the Zanzelakhti band.

We thank everyone who participated and contributed to the success of the camp, especially the generous donors: Al-Tarwe’a Restaurant, Al-Shaab Butchery owned by Nawas Khatib, Mr. Tariq Qassis, Dawood Restaurant and Halls, Mr. Maher Dawood, and Messrs. Afif and Alif Sabit.

Hoping to return soon