West Bank’s Last Christian Town Taybeh Faces Rising Settler Attacks and Restrictions

Residents of Taybeh, the last remaining Christian Palestinian town in the West Bank, have experienced a growing sense of fear and insecurity as settler attacks and encroachment intensify. For years, the community believed it had remained largely unaffected by the region’s turmoil, but recent developments have disrupted this sense of safety. Settler outposts now surround the town, with several reportedly constructed on municipal land, according to Al Jazeera.

The encroachment has led to restrictions on farmland, water sources, and movement for residents. Settlers have been reported to graze livestock on private fields, damage property, and set fires near farmland and historic churches. The Ein Samiya spring, a vital water source for Taybeh Brewery and surrounding communities, has also come under settler control, according to the same report.

Madees Khoury, who manages her family’s Taybeh Brewery, expressed disbelief at the current situation. “Taybeh was always safe, untouched. Never, never, never did I imagine it would come to this,” she said, as reported by Al Jazeera. Despite these challenges, the town’s residents continue to face limited support from Israeli authorities. After recent attacks, the military declared Taybeh and neighboring Rammun a closed zone, but residents claim the measure has not deterred settlers and may further isolate the town.

The pressure is also contributing to an existing exodus of Palestinian Christians. According to the town’s priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, fifteen families have left Taybeh over the past two years. Despite this, residents remain resolute. Father Bashar emphasized, “This land is ours,” while Mayor Suleiman Khourieh stated, “We are Palestinian Christians. We have been in this town since the Lord Christ walked in it. This is our town. We will not leave it.” Their determination reflects a deep-rooted commitment to their heritage and home.

Source: Read the original report