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Sixteen Families Have Fled Christian Village of Taybeh Amid Growing Violence, Parish Priest Warns
Father Bashar Fawadleh is calling for greater protection of Christian families in the West Bank as violence threatens their safety, livelihoods, and ability to remain on their ancestral land
HOLY LAND | PERSECUTED CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Ana Paula Morales (Poli)
11/8/20262 min read
Photo caption: Illustrative image. Photo: Lucio Patone / Unsplash.
TAYBEH, West Bank — Sixteen families — approximately 70 to 75 people — have left the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh over the past three years out of fear of violence, according to Father Bashar Fawadleh, pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish.
The priest raised the alarm during a visit to the United Kingdom on October 28–29, at the invitation of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
According to testimony published November 4 by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, Father Fawadleh described incidents involving fires, damaged vehicles, and obstacles preventing local farmers from harvesting their olives.
He also alleged that some Bedouins had appropriated land and crops and questioned the response of Palestinian authorities.
“We are asking for basic rights: to live in safety and to be protected,” the priest said.
Violence threatens the olive harvest and families' livelihoods
The situation in Taybeh has also drawn a strong response from Christian leaders in Jerusalem.
In an October 19 statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemned an attack carried out two days earlier against village residents and foreign visitors who had joined them for the olive harvest.
The Church leaders warned that such violence threatens not only the livelihoods of local families but also their connection to land cultivated for generations.
According to the Associated Press, those attacked on October 17 included European diplomats, Catholic representatives, and a French mayor.
The Israeli military described the incident as a serious act of violence, while police announced an investigation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the attacks.
Church leaders demand lasting protection
Although Christian leaders acknowledged arrests made following the assault, they stressed that isolated measures were not enough.
They called for sustained law enforcement, accountability for those responsible, and stronger protection for the people of Taybeh, other communities throughout the West Bank, and visitors who come to express solidarity.
They also reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the Christian presence in the village.
For the families of Taybeh, the concern is not simply about isolated incidents of violence. It is about their ability to live safely, provide for their families, and remain in the place they have called home for generations.
A plea to remain in their homeland without fear
During his visit to the United Kingdom, Father Fawadleh emphasized that the Church continues to stand alongside the people of Taybeh, seeking support through diplomatic and ecclesiastical channels.
He met with members of Parliament and concelebrated a Mass in London in honor of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land.
His appeal reflects the urgent needs of a community facing growing uncertainty.
For the Christian families who remain in Taybeh, the hope is simple yet profound: to continue living on their ancestral land without fear.
