Holy Land: Bishop protests over Israeli settler attack on Palestinian Christian village

Immaculate Conception church in Birzeit - Wiki image

Bishop Dr Imad Haddad writes:

Over the weekend, Israeli settlers attacked the village of Birzeit near Ramallah, trespassing and damaging private lands. When they were confronted by a local woman, they attacked and beat her and her family. Four members of the family were injured, and the woman was hospitalized in intensive care with a severe head wound. When local youth including the woman's son attempted to intervene to protect the victims, Israeli forces deployed tear gas and arrested three Palestinians, allowing the settler perpetrators to walk free.

As Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, I strongly condemn this shameful attack.

Our church has learned with deep pain that the woman who was assaulted and hospitalized, as well as her son who was arrested for defending his mother, are the mother and brother of a teacher at the Evangelical Lutheran School of Hope in Ramallah. During the attack, settlers also uprooted trees from lands belonging to families who are part of our church community in Ramallah. We stand in prayerful solidarity with the families, the school community, and all who are affected by this grave injustice against human life and our environment.

We pray for the full and swift healing of the injured woman, and we call for the immediate release of her son.

This attack was one of several this weekend by Israeli settlers that left people injured and homes and lands damaged. These violations of Palestinian safety and human rights must end.

We call for the protection of civilians, an end to the culture of impunity, and real accountability for those who commit and enable violence.

As a church, we reaffirm our commitment to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being, and we will continue to stand with the victims and to raise our voice against oppression.

Bishop Dr Imad Haddad

Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land

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Middle East Eye report on the attack:
www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-settlers-wound-elderly-christian-palestinian-woman-west-bank-attack