CMEP condemns Israeli settler attack against Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh

Badly damaged 5th century church

Following the latest violent attack by illegal Israeli settlers on the Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) have sent us this statement:

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) condemns the most recent attack by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, where on July 7, 2025, settlers deliberately set fire near the town cemetery and the historic Church of Saint George, dating back to the 5th century.

This violent act, thwarted only by the intervention of local residents and firefighters, is part of what local Christian clergy describe as "a series of dangerous, systematic attacks" against the village's land, holy sites, and people. Taybeh, historically known as Ephraim, is the last entirely Christian town in the West Bank, and these assaults represent not only a grave threat to its security but a direct effort to undermine the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

This incident is tragically not an isolated one. Christian communities throughout the West Bank and Jerusalem have faced increasing threats from extremist settlers and discriminatory Israeli policies. From repeated desecrations of Christian property to attempts at land confiscation, such as the ongoing expansion of the so-called "National Park" in East Jerusalem aimed at encircling Christian and Muslim neighborhoods, Palestinian Christians are being pushed toward exile. These targeted actions contribute to the alarming exodus of Christians from the very land where Christianity was born.

Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon, Executive Director of CMEP, stated: "The settler violence and destruction in Taybeh are part of a much broader and deeply troubling pattern of attacks that are forcing Christians from their homeland. We cannot remain silent while churches are threatened, land is stolen, and families are driven from their communities. The global Christian community must respond with urgency and solidarity."

CMEP joins the priests and residents of Taybeh in calling upon the Trump Administration and Congress , to launch a transparent investigation into these crimes, apply diplomatic pressure on Israeli authorities to hold settlers accountable, and provide tangible support to ensure that Christian life continues to flourish in the land of Christ's birth. The Holy Land cannot survive without its indigenous Christian presence.

You can read the full statement by the priests of the churches of Taybeh below:

We, the priests of the three churches of Taybeh - the Greek Orthodox Church, the Latin Church, and the Melkite Greek Catholic Church - raise our voices on behalf of the people of our town and our parishioners to strongly condemn the ongoing and grave series of attacks targeting Taybeh. These assaults threaten the security and stability of our town and aim at undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land.

On Monday, July 7, 2025, settlers deliberately set fire near the town's cemetery and the historic Church of Saint George (Al-Khadr), dating back to the 5th century - one of the oldest religious landmarks in Palestine. Were it not for the vigilance of local residents and the swift intervention of firefighting teams, the damage could have been far more catastrophic.

In a scene that has become provocatively routine, settlers continue to graze their cattle in Taybeh's agricultural lands, including family-owned fields and areas near residential homes, without deterrence or intervention from the authorities. These violations go beyond provocation; they cause direct harm to olive trees - a vital source of livelihood for the people of Taybeh - and prevent farmers from accessing and cultivating their land.

The eastern area of Taybeh, which comprises more than half of the town's territory and includes the bulk of its agricultural activity, has effectively become an open target for illegal settlement outposts that expand quietly under military protection. These outposts serve as a base for further assaults on the land and its people.

As priests, we bear a pastoral and moral responsibility toward our community. We cannot remain silent in the face of these relentless attacks that threaten our very existence on this land. Taybeh - known in the Gospel as "Ephraim," the place to which Jesus withdrew before His Passion (John 11:54) - is the last remaining entirely Christian town in the West Bank. Its wholly Christian population represents a unique presence in the region, a living testimony that dates back to the time of Christ. This enduring spiritual and cultural legacy, preserved faithfully by the people of Taybeh across generations, is now at serious risk of erosion and displacement due to the systematic targeting of land, sacred places, and the local community.

We call upon local and international actors - especially consuls, ambassadors, and church representatives around the world - to take the following actions:

1. Launch an immediate and transparent investigation into the incidents of arson and the ongoing assaults on property, agricultural land, and holy sites.

2. Apply diplomatic pressure on the occupying authorities to halt settler actions and prevent them from entering or grazing in Taybeh's lands.

3. Dispatch international and church delegations to conduct field visits, document the damages, and bear witness to the deteriorating reality on the ground.

4. Support the people of Taybeh through economic and agricultural initiatives, and strengthen their resilience with effective legal accompaniment.

We believe that the Holy Land cannot remain alive without its indigenous people. Forcibly removing farmers from their land, threatening their churches, and encircling their towns is a wound to the living heart of this nation. Yet we remain steadfast in our shared faith and hope - that truth and justice will ultimately prevail.

Fr Daoud Khoury

Fr Jack-Nobel Abed

Fr Bashar Fawadleh