The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem today accused Israeli authorities of enabling violent attacks by Jewish settlers against the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh
Newsroom (17/07/2025, Gaudium Press )The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches of Jerusalem today accused Israeli authorities of enabling a surge in violent attacks by Jewish settlers against the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, where residents have faced severe harassment, intimidation, and destruction of their farmland. The accusation was made during a rare visit to the West Bank village, a symbol of resistance against the pro-occupation policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
In a joint statement, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Patriarch of the Orthodox Church Theophilos III expressed solidarity with the community, condemning “an intensifying trend of systemic and targeted attacks” on Taybeh’s 1,500 residents, who are entirely Christian and include Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, and Greek Melkite Catholics. Speaking to Israeli media, Cardinal Pizzaballa revealed he had raised the issue with authorities, noting that an investigation was underway, though he added skeptically, “I doubt it, but I hope” for effective law enforcement.
Taybeh, located 30 km north of Jerusalem and east of Ramallah, has endured escalating violence, with a notable incident on July 7, when pro-occupation extremists set fire to the village’s historic 5th-century Church of St. George (Al-Khadr), one of Palestine’s oldest religious sites, and its adjacent cemetery. The village, where Jesus is said to have retreated before his Passion, has seen its olive groves and fields damaged or made inaccessible by settlers herding animals to graze on cultivated land.
The violence predates the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Gaza conflict, but the war and a brief 12-day clash with Iran have emboldened settlers, who residents say act with impunity. The visit saw Christian leaders from Greek Orthodox, Latin, Greek Catholic, Armenian, Lutheran, and Anglican denominations gather in Taybeh’s town hall alongside local delegations, diplomats, and journalists. After a video presentation on the village’s plight, Patriarch Theophilos III delivered a message of solidarity, followed by a procession to the Byzantine church for a joint prayer in Arabic and Greek, described as deeply ecumenical.
Marie-Armelle Beaulieu, editor-in-chief of Terre Sainte magazine and a 30-year Jerusalem resident, told AsiaNews that the presence of diverse Christian leaders was “a great event,” amplified by significant media and diplomatic attendance. “The policy of occupation affects Christians and Muslims alike,” she said, echoing Theophilos III’s call for international attention to the crisis. Beaulieu emphasized the deep roots of Christianity in the region, noting its 2,000-year presence and invoking international law to legitimize the Christian community’s right to remain in the face of “violent attacks” and the “silence or collusion” of Israeli authorities.
Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, Taybeh’s Latin parish priest, described the village as a sacred place “where security is denied and sacred spaces are burned.” He affirmed the community’s resolve: “We are not passers-by, nor migrants, nor foreigners. This land is a calling, a mission, and a covenant that will not be broken.” He warned that Taybeh’s suffering reflects the broader plight of West Bank villages.
The Christian leaders called for “prayers, attention, and action” globally, urging resilience in the face of “persistent threats.” King Abdullah of Jordan also condemned the “brutal attacks” by “extremist settlers,” demanding “an immediate and firm international position” to address the escalating violence.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from asianews.it
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