Christian priests in Palestine report wave of violence by Israeli settlers

Three clergy members — Orthodox, Catholic, and Melkite — have issued a public statement regarding the growing violence against the Christian community in the town of Taybeh, the last entirely Christian town in Palestine. They are calling on international institutions and Church organizations to intervene and document the crimes, which, according to them, are becoming systematic. This was reported by CatholicCulture.org.

Local residents face arson attacks, property destruction, restricted access to farmland, and assaults, which, the priests claim, occur with the silent approval of the Israeli military.

It is reported that Israeli settlers recently set fire to an ancient Byzantine Christian cemetery and the Church of St. George in the village of Al-Khader — one of the oldest and most revered Christian sites in the region. Olive groves, the main source of income for Christians in Taybeh, have also been damaged, and farmers are being prevented from reaching and working their land.

According to the clergy, illegal settlements continue expanding on the eastern outskirts of the town, which is effectively becoming a target for systematic pressure. Similar acts of violence, including the burning of homes, vehicles, and crops, have occurred in nearby villages such as Ein Samiya and Kufr Malik. According to Palestinian sources, four young locals were killed during one such incident at the end of June.

The priests emphasize that attacks on infrastructure and religious sites pose a direct threat to the survival of the Christian community in the region.

It is worth recalling that the town of Taybeh, located on the West Bank and known as the last entirely Christian settlement in Palestine, is currently under serious threat. According to local residents and clergy, the Israeli authorities tolerate violent actions by settlers, jeopardizing not only the safety of the inhabitants but the very existence of the community.