West Bank Christians feel ‘forgotten’ over settler violence

By Myriam Sandouno 

“Do not forget Taybeh! Taybeh must not vanish into silence.” That’s the urgent plea issued by Father Bashar Fawadleh, describing the harsh reality in Palestine’s last entirely Christian village. 

In Taybeh—mentioned in the Bible under the name Ephraim, where Jesus and his disciples are said to have sought refuge—the local community is now facing systematic intimidation, property seizures, and encroaching settlements.

This Sunday, the Israeli military declared Taybeh closed to non-residents, effectively blocking Israelis from entering the Palestinian town. According to a military spokesperson, the restriction applies solely to Israelis, not Palestinians, and was enacted to “protect residents in the area” following “several violent attacks by Israelis in the region.”

In an interview with Vatican News, the Latin parish priest of Christ the Redeemer church called on the international community to take action and urged the global Church to offer prayers and support.

The following is an English translation of an interview conducted in French by Vatican News’ Myriam Sandouno.

Father Bashar, Taybeh continues to suffer from incursions by Israeli settlers. Last Wednesday, settlers broke into a home belonging to a family from your parish. What exactly happened on August 5th?

Unfortunately, what we are witnessing right now is deeply alarming. The house you mentioned had just been prepared for its occupants to move in. However, over the span of several days, two settlers broke into the property multiple times. They occupied the land and brought a flock of sheep right up to the house. The settlers also cut through the fencing.

This is not an isolated incident; it is a deliberate strategy of harassment designed to create a climate of fear and pressure Palestinian families into leaving their land. We give thanks to God that the family is physically safe.

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The family wasn’t home during the latest intrusion, but this must be a gruelling ordeal both physically and psychologically.

Imagine preparing a home for your family, only to find out that strangers have been trespassing and occupying it at will. That is the reality we are living here in Taybeh. In fact, as I speak to you right now, those same settlers have returned to pitch tents on the property. It is an incredibly difficult situation to endure.

Have other families been affected by this violence in recent days?

Many families across the west, east, and south of Taybeh are suffering from this settler violence. As they always do, they have been setting fire to vacant land. Most recently, they torched a hillside southeast of the village. The Israeli settlers come to cause harm and occupy the land.

Over the last few months, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. Almost daily, we face incursions, attacks on private property, the destruction of farmland, road closures, travel restrictions, and relentless pressure on the population.

Do the people of Taybeh feel forgotten?

Yes. We feel forgotten, and we feel entirely alone. Legal options exist, but they are unfortunately very limited and rarely effective. That is why international presence and pressure are vital right now. We need concrete protection for civilians and genuine political will to bring an end to this violence.

We need help to sustain our lives here and to continue bearing witness to Jesus Christ and his disciples. Preserving the Christian presence here in Taybeh is a shared responsibility. Given everything that is happening, some residents are reaching a breaking point where they want to leave their land and abandon everything.

How does hope in Christ sustain those who choose to stay despite everything?

While there is no political solution in sight, there is something very special keeping us going: our hope in Jesus Christ and our faith in the Church. We urge the global Church to intensify its prayers for us and to support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the entire Holy Land. We firmly believe that prayer works miracles.

Do not forget Taybeh. I invite every Catholic diocese worldwide to speak out about the situation here, to talk about these Christian brothers and sisters who are living in terror. The birthplace of the Christian community must not vanish into silence. Together, we can preserve this living testament of faith. I must add that visits from diplomatic missions and from Cardinal Pizzaballa do reassure us and give us a vital sense of security.

How are the various Orthodox, Latin, Melkite, and Greek Catholic communities organizing to support the victims? Have these painful events strengthened Christian unity in any way?

Faced with this crisis, the Christian community stands completely united. The Church is walking alongside these families, supporting the most vulnerable, fostering solidarity among residents, and continuing to defend human dignity. We are also working closely with diplomatic representations, international organizations, and the media to ensure the reality of Taybeh is known and that our voices are not silenced.

Through your platform, I would like to appeal directly to Pope Leo XIV to intervene for this last Christian village in the West Bank, so that these settler attacks cease and the occupation of our land stops. We simply want to live in peace, with justice and dignity.

What does Taybeh symbolize for the Palestinian Christian community?

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It is a vital, foundational symbol for everyone, especially as we prepare for the 2033 Jubilee, marking two millennia since Jesus Christ walked this earth. Taybeh stands on the front lines of preserving Christianity here in the Holy Land. Jesus chose to seek refuge in Taybeh before his passion, death, and resurrection. We must remain a living testament to Christianity and its enduring presence in the Holy Land. The world must stand with Taybeh.