Church leaders decry settler arson and daily cattle raids threatening Taybeh’s Christian survival

Priests in the historic Christian town of Taybeh in the West Bank have issued a stark warning to the world: settler violence is now a daily menace, and it’s threatening the very survival of their community. In a powerful joint statement, the heads of Taybeh’s Greek Orthodox, Melkite Greek Catholic, and Latin churches condemned a recent spate of settler harassment, including an arson attack near a sacred archaeological site.

The fire broke out on Monday beside the ruins of the fifth-century Church of St George—an ancient place of worship deeply rooted in the town’s Christian heritage. Residents allege extremist settlers lit the blaze, which burned dangerously close to the nearby cemetery. Locals rushed to extinguish the flames before they could cause more destruction.

“We cannot remain silent in the face of these relentless attacks that threaten our very existence on this land,” wrote Father Daoud Khoury, Father Jacques-Noble Abed, and Father Bashar Fawadleh. Their statement accused settlers of systematically expanding illegal outposts on the eastern edge of Taybeh and using them as a launchpad for assaults on land and community alike.

Taybeh, believed to be the last entirely Christian town in the West Bank, has come under increasing pressure. The priests say the eastern part of the town—home to most of its agricultural life—has effectively become an “open target.” Almost daily, settlers arrive to graze their cattle, allowing the animals to trample olive trees and destroy vital crops.

Father Fawadleh described one settler who rides into town on a donkey each day, bringing cattle to graze. These intrusions not only destroy valuable olive trees but also disrupt the livelihoods of Taybeh’s farmers—whose existence depends on that land. “People are very worried,” said Fawadleh. “They have weapons, so we have to be careful how we act.”

The church leaders said the attacks pose a risk not only to Taybeh’s people but also to its cultural and spiritual legacy. “This enduring spiritual and cultural legacy, preserved faithfully by the people of Taybeh across generations, is now at serious risk of erosion and displacement,” they wrote.

The fire near the Church of St George is just the latest in a series of unsettling incidents. On Monday, Father Jacques-Noble Abed called the police emergency line twice to report the arson. Although police said a force would be dispatched, no officers ever arrived. This lack of response has further eroded trust in authorities and left residents feeling abandoned.

Taybeh’s plight mirrors that of nearby communities like Mu’arrajat, where entire Bedouin populations have recently fled due to rising settler intimidation. Human rights groups have repeatedly warned that settler violence—often protected by or carried out under the gaze of Israeli military forces—is displacing Palestinians and undermining any hope for peaceful coexistence.

Despite the religious importance of Taybeh and its heritage, the community says it is running out of options. “We ask people from around the world for help,” said Father Fawadleh, “not because we are Christian Palestinians but because we are Palestinians, and we want to live in peace and justice, to live in our land and our country.”

Taybeh, long known for its traditional Christian festivals and peaceful community life, now stands on edge. What once drew pilgrims and visitors is now overshadowed by fear, fire, and a fight for survival.