Taybeh – Senior Christian leaders have raised alarm over recent attacks on sacred Christian sites in the West Bank, condemning the violence as a direct threat to the Christian presence in the Holy Land. On July 14, Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III and Roman Catholic Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa visited the Christian-majority village of Taybeh following an incident earlier this month in which extremist settlers vandalized and set fire near the ancient Church of Saint George.
According to local church sources, a group of settlers entered Taybeh on July 7, damaging property and igniting fires near the 5th-century church and the village cemetery. Several homes were also reportedly targeted. The residents said that emergency calls made during the attack were ignored, with no immediate response from Israeli authorities.
Patriarch Theophilos and Cardinal Pizzaballa strongly condemned the acts as "deliberate and targeted," warning that such hostility endangers the historical and spiritual identity of Christians in the region. They emphasized that these repeated acts of aggression have left Christian communities feeling abandoned and vulnerable, despite being stewards of centuries-old traditions and heritage.
The clerics called on international leaders and the global Christian community to speak out in defense of Christian sites and families in the West Bank. They also urged Israeli authorities to ensure better protection of religious places and to hold perpetrators accountable.
Taybeh, known for its peaceful Christian community and ancient churches, has long been a symbol of Christian continuity in the region. The recent incidents have intensified concerns over the growing challenges faced by the dwindling Christian population in the Holy Land.
Church leaders reiterated their commitment to supporting Christian families in Taybeh and across the West Bank, vowing not to let intimidation or violence drive them away from their ancestral lands. They also pledged to increase their presence and advocacy efforts in international forums to safeguard Christian heritage and faith in the birthplace of Christianity.