Christian leaders in the Holy Land have denounced what they describe as “systemic and targeted attacks” against the Christian community in Taybeh, the only remaining all-Christian town in the West Bank, following a recent arson incident linked to Israeli settlers.
“We… are here today in Taybeh in solidarity with the local community following an intensifying trend of systemic and targeted attacks against them and their presence,” said the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem in a statement.
“We ask for the prayers, attention, and action of the world, particularly that of Christians globally,” the statement read.
On July 7, radical settlers allegedly set fire near Taybeh’s cemetery and the ruins of the historic Church of Saint George, a fifth-century holy site. Local residents and firefighters were able to prevent the blaze from destroying the site.
“These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community first and foremost, but also to the historic and religious heritage of our ancestors and holy sites,” the Council stated. “In the face of such threats, the greatest act of bravery is to continue to call this your home.”
Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa made a solidarity visit to Taybeh this week, holding a press conference and prayer ceremony at the scene of the attack. “We stand with you, we support your resilience, and you have our prayers,” they said in a joint statement, as reported by Times of Israel.
They emphasized the need for accountability, calling the attacks “a direct and intentional threat” and demanding an investigation into Israeli police inaction.
“We call for an immediate and transparent investigation into why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished,” the patriarchs stated.
Local church leaders reportedly called the police emergency line twice during the attack. Officers told them that a police unit had been dispatched, but no personnel arrived at the scene.
In recent months, settlers have also let cattle graze on farmland east of Taybeh, damaging olive groves and rendering some areas inaccessible. Last month, settlers allegedly lit fires near several homes and erected a billboard that read, “there is no future for you here.”
Theophilos and Pizzaballa warned that continued violence is pressuring Christians to emigrate. “Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation,” Pizzaballa said. “This time it’s very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future.”
The Council reiterated its call for protection of sacred sites, even in times of conflict. “The Church has had a faithful presence in this region for nearly 2,000 years. We firmly reject this message of exclusion and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land that is a mosaic of different faiths, living peacefully together in dignity and safety.”
King Abdullah II of Jordan also issued a statement condemning the arson as “a blatant violation of the sanctity of the dead, Christian holy sites, and [the] Christian presence in the Holy Land.”
Church leaders are urging the international community—including diplomats, politicians, and church officials—to speak out and act. “The attacks by the hands of settlers against our community, which is living in peace, must stop, both here in Taybeh and elsewhere throughout the West Bank,” they said. “This is clearly part of the systematic attacks against Christians that we see unfolding throughout the region.”
They concluded with a message of hope: “Truth and justice will ultimately prevail,” quoting the Prophet Amos: “Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
