The Christian community in the Palestinian village of Taybeh is calling for help amid violence by Jewish settlers

Residents of Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village on the West Bank of the Jordan River, have faced systematic pressure, land seizures, and threats from Israeli settlers. Local clergy and residents feel forgotten by the international community and are calling for immediate intervention to prevent the disappearance of this historically significant Christian community. This was reported by Vatican News.

The rector of the local Church of Christ the Savior, Father Bashar Fawadleh, described the recent incidents in detail in an interview with the publication, including settlers’ illegal entry into private homes, the erection of tents on others’ land, and the deliberate burning of farmland. According to the priest, these actions are part of a deliberate intimidation strategy aimed at forcing Palestinian families to leave their lands.

In response to the escalating violence, the Israeli military temporarily closed access to Taybeh to Israeli citizens in an effort to reduce tensions in the region. However, local residents note that legal protection mechanisms are virtually ineffective and emphasize the urgent need for an international presence and political will to put an end to these abuses.

Despite the difficult conditions, the Christian community in Taybeh remains united, bringing together Latin Rite Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Greek Catholics to support the affected families. Father Bashar called on the Pope and the global Christian community not to leave Taybeh in silence, reminding them that the village, mentioned in the Bible under the name Ephraim, is an important symbol of the Christian presence in the Holy Land, especially in light of the upcoming 2033 jubilee.

It should be noted that, according to data from the Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) published in the second quarter of 2026, 83 cases of persecution of Christians were recorded in Israel. Most of the incidents occurred in the Old City of Jerusalem, where believers face spitting, physical attacks, vandalism, and online harassment.