In Taybeh - the only remaining Christian village in the West Bank - children live in fear

Photo> WCC

Source: WCC

Taybeh, the only remaining Christian village in the West Bank, includes Christian archaeology dating back to the Roman era and early Christianity. Located in the Ramallah area of the West Bank, the village's population has dwindled to 1,200 people, all of them Christians. During the 1980s, the population was around 3,000 people.

Today, Taybeh is surrounded by four illegal Israeli settlements: Ofra and Amona from the West, and Rimonim and Kokav Hashahar from the East, in addition to tens of settler outposts from all directions.

Taybeh has been subjected to numerous attacks and acts of arson by Israeli settlers, including shootings, fire arson that damaged an ancient church, and destruction of trees. Video footage shows settlers riding through properties of Christian families on all-terrain vehicles, shouting at and harassing the residents. Children are especially frightened during these scenes.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, Latin Parish priest, recalled that, 20 years ago, no one infringed on the land and there were no checkpoints in Taybeh. "It was normal life in Taybeh with peace and quiet," he said. "Due to the violence, Taybeh has been receiving visits from the world over."

Within the last year, he has hosted more than 50 diplomatic visits, including German foreign minister Johann Wadephul, and media teams on regular basis. He has made no less than 10 visits abroad to countries including France, Italy, the United States, and Spain.

"Expressions of solidarity, while much appreciated, are not enough, and action is needed to stop settler violence against Taybeh," he said. "What the world did for us is not enough."

He called for the world to exert more pressure on Israel to stop settler violence.

Fifteen Palestinians from other villages have been killed in the vicinity of Taybeh due to settler violence. "Children who attend schools in Ramallah have to travel on unsafe roads where they encounter the settlers-the roads are not safe, including for children who come to our schools from outside the village," said Fawadleh. "There are no guarantees for children's safety on the roads."

He recalled when children were gathered for summer camp inside the Latin Patriarchate premises in 2025. "It was the first day of summer camp, and the news spread that no less than 15 armed settlers had entered the village," he said. "People outside on the street were in havoc and they were shouting to alert each other."

He described utter chaos: "The children and their families were terrified, and I saw children in tears due to fear," he said. "It took us more than two hours to calm down the terrified children."

The nuns were also terrified, Fawadleh added. "With the summer camp, we also have an issue with parents who cannot return to the village in the afternoon due to fear, when they know that settlers are on the roads or that parents are held at checkpoints," he said. "These are people who work in Ramallah, and while the summer camp ends at 2 pm, the parents cannot come to pick up their children, who must stay with us until it is safe for them to go home."

Taybeh residents must also travel to Ramallah for hospitalization. "There is no children's hospital or specialized assistance for the entire community of Taybeh," said Fawadleh. "A study is underway by the Latin Patriarchate, Caritas International, and Malta, to create a hospital in Taybeh, but lots of assistance is needed from the world community to bring this hospital to realization."

He wished to share what he believes will help the children live with a sense of safety. "My call to the world is to help us in Taybeh raise the children in peace and security," Fawadleh said. "I am not asking for too much."

LINK

WCC's Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel: www.oikoumene.org/what-we-do/eappi