Christian family in Taybeh, West Bank, faces settler harassment and threatened harvest

Israeli settlers have brought a sheep herd to the Kaabnah family compound outside Taybeh village twice a day for the past three months, according to reports from America Magazine, Catholic Review and OSV News. Catholic Review reported that the settlers have sometimes broken through fencing and let the animals roam the compound, and that they have clashed with protective presence volunteers. Taybeh is described in the reports as the West Bank’s last Christian village.

On Aug. 9, the Israel Defense Forces declared Taybeh a closed military zone for non-residents, Israelis and foreign nationals, effective until July 2027, according to America Magazine.

On Aug. 16, two masked settlers sprinted around the compound perimeter and threw rocks at the family’s tin structures and at family members, according to America Magazine and Catholic Review. OSV News described the rocks as thrown at the family’s homes and members. Catholic Review reported that Nayef Kaabnah, 55, phoned Israeli police after about 1.5 hours of harassment. America Magazine reported that police arrived shortly after the settlers left and briefly detained two OSV News journalists.

Kaabnah said he had filed more than 10 police reports about the attacks, according to America Magazine. OSV News reported that he said police have not consistently intervened despite multiple reports. Providing consistent protection to a family under repeated threat is a way of defending the vulnerable (Psalm 82:3).

Kaabnah said the attacks by extremist settlers began about three years ago, following the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the Gaza war, according to America Magazine. Catholic Review reported that he attributed the attacks to settlers from illegal outposts.

Activists accused police of telling settlers when they were about to arrive, giving the settlers time to leave, according to America Magazine. Catholic Review reported the same accusation, saying the activists claimed police had tipped off settlers in advance.

Neither the IDF nor Israeli police responded to OSV News requests for comment.