Top Christian leaders in the Holy Land accused Israeli authorities Monday of enabling Israeli settlers’ escalating attacks in Taybeh. Taybeh is the only entirely Christian Palestinian village left in the occupied West Bank. Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the village in a rare act of solidarity. They criticized Israeli authorities for failing to respond to emergency calls during an arson incident near the community’s church last week.
Urgent Calls for Accountability and Investigation
In a joint statement, the patriarchs and church heads of Jerusalem demanded an official investigation. They urged Israeli authorities to hold settlers accountable for recent incidents. Church leaders allege that settlers have not only set fires but also grazed cattle on Palestinian lands, torched homes, and erected a threatening sign stating, “There is no future for you here.” Israel’s military has not commented on these specific allegations. However, it previously acknowledged acting against “outlaw settlers,” often framing settler violence as involving stone-throwing and clashes.
Rising Violence Amid Gaza War Intensifies Tensions
The ongoing war in Gaza has fueled broader instability across the West Bank. Israeli military operations targeting militants have resulted in hundreds of Palestinian deaths and mass displacement. This conflict escalation has coincided with increased settler attacks and Palestinian violence against Israelis. Recent reports include a deadly settler assault in Al-Mazraa a-Sharqiya, south of Taybeh, where two Palestinian men were killed during a funeral-related clash.
Church Leaders Highlight Breakdown of Rule of Law
During their visit, Pizzaballa warned that the West Bank is sliding into lawlessness. “The only law is that of power,” he told reporters, emphasizing the need to restore legal order to protect residents’ rights. Both patriarchs prayed together at Taybeh’s St. George church, standing near the site where settlers reportedly ignited fires. Their visit underscored deepening concerns over the future of the Christian community.
Christian Population in Decline Across Region
The Christian community in Israel and the Palestinian territories has been shrinking for decades. Analysts cite emigration and low birth rates as primary factors. Christians now represent only a small fraction of the region’s population, highlighting the vulnerability of communities like Taybeh amid escalating violence and social pressures.
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Leaders of Holy Land churches condemn Israeli settler violence during a West Bank visit
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