Founder of the Religious Freedom Data Center, has described the recent surge in settler attacks in the West Bank village of Taybeh as a “disturbing development” that threatens the fabric of coexistence in the Holy Land.
Newsroom (11 July 2025, Gaudium Press ) Yisca Harani, founder of the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC), has described the recent surge in settler attacks in the West Bank village of Taybeh as a “disturbing development” that threatens the fabric of coexistence in the Holy Land. The escalation, which includes the arson of a historic 5th-century church, has drawn condemnation from religious leaders and prompted a planned solidarity visit by the patriarchs and heads of Jerusalem’s Churches on Monday.
Harani, an Israeli activist who established the RFDC in June 2023, spoke to AsiaNews about the growing wave of violence targeting minority communities, particularly Christians, in Israel and the Occupied Territories. “Speaking of peace and coexistence may sound naïve or distant right now,” she said, “but the only way to preserve even the slightest hope for a future of shared life between Jews and Palestinians, and among Jews, Christians, and Muslims, is to continue doing the work we’re doing today.”
The RFDC, an independent organization, has documented over 50 incidents targeting Christians in Israel between April and June this year, with a focus on Jerusalem. According to their report, Incidents Against Christians in Israel, 50% of these attacks occurred in the Armenian Quarter, with Jaffa Gate, David Street, and the Via Dolorosa also identified as hotspots. Spitting (78%), verbal abuse (8%), vandalism (4%), and desecration of sacred sites were among the most common forms of aggression, targeting clergy and civilians alike during religious processions or services.
Taybeh: A Christian Village Under Siege
Taybeh, a village of approximately 1,500 residents located 30 km north of Jerusalem, is the only entirely Christian community in the West Bank. Known in the Gospels as “Ephraim,” where Jesus retreated before his Passion, Taybeh is home to three churches, including the historic Church of St. George (Al-Khadr), one of Palestine’s oldest religious sites. On Monday, pro-occupation extremists set fire to the village’s cemetery and the church, an act that has deepened fears among its Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, and Melkite Greek Catholic residents.
“This is not just a provocation,” said Frs. Daoud Khoury, Jack-Nobel Abed, and Bashar Fawadleh, the village’s Greek Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Latin parish priests, in a joint statement. The attacks, they warned, “threaten the security and stability” of the Christian community, undermine the “dignity of its inhabitants,” and violate the “sacredness” of the Holy Land. The priests also highlighted the economic toll, noting that settlers have damaged olive groves—an essential source of income—and blocked farmers’ access to their lands.
A Broader Crisis of Ideology and Accountability
Harani attributes the violence to a “complete erosion of restraint, legality, and accountability,” exacerbated by what she describes as “clear government backing.” She points to a Judeo-centric ideology that has “taken root” in Israeli society, driven by decades of exclusivist narratives under leaders like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “This ideology of Jewish supremacy,” she said, “frames Jews as perpetually under threat, even when in power, fueling extremism.”
The activist expressed particular concern over the legitimization of settler actions by key political figures, including Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and, by extension, the Prime Minister and the Israeli army. “This is the core of the problem,” Harani stated. “The behavior is effectively legitimized, even if it alarms some settlers who see the lawlessness and ideological extremism of the young people in the hills.”
While the RFDC primarily documents incidents within Israel, Harani noted that “the psychological and political boundaries” between Israel and the West Bank are increasingly blurred. The violence in Taybeh, she argued, reflects a broader pattern of “territorial domination and messianic nationalism” rather than a specific anti-Christian agenda. Nonetheless, the impact on Christian communities is “real and alarming,” signaling a dangerous trend of lawlessness in the West Bank.
A Fractured Society and a Call for Solidarity
Harani described Israeli society as “profoundly divided,” not only along religious or secular lines but politically between the right and the center-left. “Each side believes it could win again, fueling tension and alienation,” she said. Amid this crisis of trust, civil society organizations like the RFDC have stepped in to document violations and raise awareness, both domestically and internationally.
Reflecting on her childhood in Jerusalem, Harani recalled a time of “tension but also coexistence.” Today, she sees a “dramatic rise in intolerance” rooted in a failure to teach values of kindness and pluralism. “I believe most Israeli Jews—perhaps 90%—have no idea these incidents are taking place,” she said. “That’s why our work is vital. The rights of minorities, including Christians, are not a marginal issue but a measure of who we are as a society.”
In response to the violence, the patriarchs and heads of Jerusalem’s Churches will visit Taybeh and Ramallah on Monday, joined by diplomats, culminating in a press conference at the Church of St. George. The gesture underscores a collective commitment to condemning the attacks and supporting the embattled Christian community.
A Historic Responsibility
For Harani, the RFDC’s mission is deeply personal. “For Jewish Israelis, this is a historic moment,” she said. “We remember what it means to be a persecuted minority. Now, as a majority, we have the responsibility to act differently.” By documenting incidents and filing police complaints, the RFDC ensures that “90% of these incidents” do not go unnoticed, challenging the silence and impunity surrounding settler violence.
As the Holy Land grapples with escalating tensions, Harani’s work serves as a reminder that protecting minority rights is not just a moral imperative but a critical step toward preserving the possibility of a shared future.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
Related Images:
