An interdenominational group of Christian leaders from Jerusalem has visited the Christian-majority town of Taybeh in the West Bank following an attack by Israeli settlers on 7 July, when they attacked homes in Taybeh and set fire to cars. About 1,500 people live in Taybeh, which is located about 45km by road northeast of Jerusalem and 18km east of Ramallah.

Initial media reports stated that the historic Church of St George (which dates back to the fifth century) and its adjoining cemetery were damaged by fire but that was contradicted by Israeli police on 21 July who stated, “No damage was caused to the Church of Saint George in Taybeh. The fire was limited to an adjacent open area, not the holy site… The District Commander has initiated a thorough investigation. If arson is confirmed, justice will be pursued regardless of race or background.”

Speaking in the immediate aftermath of the attack, Fr Bashar Fawadleh, Taybeh’s Roman Catholic parish priest, said that calls for help to the centre for coordination between the Palestinian Government and the Israeli Government were not acted on. He stated, “They said they were coming, but they never came. They didn’t protect us, they didn’t stop the settlers, and this is because they protect the settlers, because a lot of the soldiers come from the settler communities, and they are encouraged by the fanatical elements in the Government.”

Background

Fr Fawadleh described the background to the attack, saying, “Every morning, for almost one month, a settler would come to graze a large herd of cows among our olive groves, which are very famous for their quality. Here people live mainly from the sale of olive oil. The cows have been destroying the trees and will ruin the harvest season, which is in October. Without the harvest, there is no life in the town.

“We were very surprised when more than ten armed settlers attacked the very holy and important church of St George, or Al-Khadr, as we say in Arabic. They lit a fire beside the church… We were shocked, but more than twenty young people rushed with me to the site and managed to extinguish the fire, while they just stood by and watched. They have also blocked some streets with their cars, not letting us use them, while the main roads in and out of Taybeh continue to be blocked by army checkpoints and barriers.” Ten families have left the town since the most recent violence began.

The number of Israeli settlers in the West Bank has increased from about 250,000 in the early 1990s to about 700,000 today. The settlers, who call the area Judea and Samaria, often say they have a biblical right to be there.

Reaction

Following the attack, an interdenominational group of Christian leaders visited Taybeh including representatives from the Anglican, Armenian, Greek Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches. In a statement, the delegation said, “We, the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem, 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. We ask for the prayers, attention, and action of the world, particularly that of Christians globally.

“We ask diplomats, politicians, and church officials worldwide to provide a prayerful and outspoken voice for our ecumenical community in Taybeh, that their presence may be secured and that they can live in peace to worship freely, grow crops without danger, and live in a peace that seems to be in far too short of supply.

“We join our fellow clergy in Taybeh in reiterating this message of hope in the face of a persistent threat: ‘truth and justice will ultimately prevail’. And we recall the words of the Prophet Amos, which become our prayer during this challenging time: ‘Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream’.”

Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel, visited Taybeh on Saturday 19 July and was outspoken in a post on X following his visit, stating: “Desecrating a church, mosque or synagogue is a crime against humanity and God. I work for ALL American citizens who live in Israel – Jewish, Muslim or Christian. When they are terrorised or victims of crime I will demand those responsible be held accountable with real consequences.”

Following the issuing of the police statement, he later posted: “Investigation reveals no damage to ancient church in Taybeh & investigation of origin of fire continues. I have NOT attributed the cause of fire to any person or group as we don’t know for sure. The press has. I have said that regardless, it was crime & deserves consequences.”

(Aid to the Church in Need, Asia News, Irish Times, Jerusalem Post, Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Times of Israel)

Photo: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem