The Israel Defense Forces have blocked access to the Christian village of Taybeh amid attacks by settlers

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have declared the village of Taybeh in the West Bank—the region’s only entirely Christian community—a “restricted military zone.” This measure was taken to protect local residents from regular attacks by Israeli settlers, which have become significantly more frequent over the past year. This was reported by and Christian Today.

According to sources, the village has been subjected to acts of vandalism for many months: perpetrators have attempted to set the church on fire, destroyed cars, and damaged olive groves. Despite official condemnation of these incidents by the authorities, not a single arrest has been made in connection with these cases to date. An official spokesperson for the IDF stated that restricting access to the area is aimed solely at ensuring the safety of the civilian population.

However, critics of this decision express concern that the “closed military zone” status could be used to restrict access by journalists and international observers, without addressing the problem of the presence of hostile individuals in these territories. Father Bashar Fawadleh, the rector of the local Church of Christ the Redeemer, described the situation as a “dramatic deterioration,” noting that attacks have become a daily occurrence.

According to the priest, the village residents feel “forgotten and alone” in the face of constant pressure. He emphasized that the issue of preserving Taybeh goes beyond the protection of individual lives, as it concerns the preservation of the historic Christian presence in the Holy Land. In conclusion, Father Bashar called on the international community and the Vatican to intervene actively to stop the violence and prevent the indigenous residents from being driven from their lands.