TAYBEH (OSV News): The Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land visited the West Bank village of Taybeh on July 14, following increasing attacks on the community by extremist settlers
The called on Israeli authorities to hold them accountable for assaults on agricultural lands and holy sites they said in a joint statement read by Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III at the beginning of their visit.
They said Israeli authorities “facilitate and enable” the settler presence around Taybeh and demanded an “immediate and transparent investigation” into why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local communities during recent attacks and why the “abhorrent actions” continue to go unpunished.
“The attacks by the hands of settlers against our community, which is living in peace, must stop, both here in Taybeh and elsewhere throughout the West Bank. This is clearly part of the systematic attacks against Christians that we see unfolding throughout the region,” they said in the statement.
They also called for “prayers, attention, and action” from diplomats, politicians and journalists — especially from world Christians.
The attacks by the hands of settlers against our community, which is living in peace, must stop, both here in Taybeh and elsewhere throughout the West Bank. This is clearly part of the systematic attacks against Christians that we see unfolding throughout the region
Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land
They said in a statement that “repeated, systematic attacks from these radicals” are “only growing more frequent.”
The Church leaders noted that over the past month the extremist settlers have led cattle to graze on the agricultural land on the east side of Taybeh, making them inaccessible to their owners and damaging the olive groves which the farmers depend on. They also noted that several homes were attacked by the settlers who lit fires and erected a billboard which, translated into English, read: “There is no future for you here.”
“The Church has had a faithful presence in this region for nearly 2,000 years. We firmly reject this message of exclusion and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land that is a mosaic of different faiths, living peacefully together in dignity and safety,” they said.
Taybeh has been targeted by settlers from the nearby Rimonim settlement who set up tents on Taybeh land, with attacks including the burning of homes, olive groves, and significant religious and cultural landmarks such as setting land next to the Byzantine cemetery and the 5th century Al-Khader [St. George] Church on fire on July 7. Residents reported that nearby Israeli soldiers not only failed to intervene but actively shielded the settlers as the violence unfolded.
The Church has had a faithful presence in this region for nearly 2,000 years. We firmly reject this message of exclusion and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land that is a mosaic of different faiths, living peacefully together in dignity and safety
Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of the Holy Land
Rami Khoureh, recounted how his uncle, whose land abuts the settler encampment in Taybeh, had been forced to watch from his home recently as the settlers set their cattle loose on the barley field he had planted for his sheep herd. All the crops were eaten and his uncle eventually relocated his sheep out of fear that they would be stolen. Khoureh has also been unable to reach his own olive groves out of fear of being attacked by settlers.
“I am very afraid. I am afraid they will take the olives I pick and our tools. We feel like we are tied up. We can’t do anything. It is ridiculous that we are scared and feel we can’t go anywhere,” he said.
“We denounce this attempt to take over land. We denounce this criminal intimidation and tactic by settler groups and request an investigation and proper measures be taken to protect Taybeh and the surrounding villages,” said Taybeh’s Christ the Redeemer Catholic parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, at the opening of the patriarchs’ visit. “We are not passers-by. We are the memory of this land. We are steadfast and deeply rooted in our heritage of faith.”
The Church leaders led prayers at the Al-Khader Church, with the lingering stench of the burned brush beyond the ancient stone walls still hanging in the air.
Pierbattista Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, told journalists that the Christian leaders had contacted the Israeli Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories about the settler attacks and would keep insisting at “every opportunity” that Israeli authorities denounce the attacks. He said they would be “relentless” to have their voices heard to “at least get answers about the situation.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa said they stood closely with the villagers and asked the media and diplomats from almost 30 countries that accompanied their delegation to help keep attention focused on the issue.
He said that while the unity shown by the presence of Christian leaders of all denominations was “very important” the situation remained “very concerning.”
The recent attacks in Taybeh are part a broader pattern of settler violence and impunity unfolding across the West Bank, especially since attention has been focused on the war in the Gaza Strip.
