Taybeh: West Bank Christian town under renewed settler incursion
By Alexandra Sirgant and Linda Bordoni
Amid the continuing Israeli attacks in Lebanon, radical Jewish settlers have increased violent attacks on Palestinian civilians and villages in the West Bank.
Sweeping decisions by the Israeli cabinet to expand settlements are placing further strain on the already fragile equilibrium of the territory, where coordinated raids by settlers have not spared the only entirely Christian community in the area, located east of Jerusalem and north of Ramallah.
The town of Taybeh, widely known as the last fully Christian Palestinian town in the West Bank, has faced repeated attacks on homes and property, with a sharp rise of incursions since June 2025. Over the past two days, a new escalation has seen settlers enter and take control of a cement factory and quarry on the western outskirts of the town.
Since the morning of March 19, Israeli settlers have reportedly entered the site, where they have conducted Talmudic rituals and prayers. Their presence has continued for a second consecutive day, effectively asserting control over the area. Witnesses also report that an Israeli flag was raised atop one of the plant’s storage tanks.
Speaking to Vatican Radio, Taybeh’s Latin parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, described a marked shift in the pattern of attacks.
He explained that earlier incidents had been concentrated in the eastern part of Taybeh, but that the latest developments signal a new phase, with settlers targeting key public and economic infrastructure in the western area.
Father Fawadleh recounted how settlers entered the quarry and concrete plant, raised flags, and returned again the following day to continue prayers and rituals. Despite calls to Israeli police, who briefly intervened, the settlers returned shortly after being removed.
The police, he said, came one hour after our phone call, he said, “but after that they [the settlers] came back in 15 or 30 minutes. And now they are inside the land.”
He warned that such actions appear to be part of a broader effort to expand territorial control across a strategic area stretching from east of Jerusalem toward the Jordan Valley. Taybeh itself, he continued, encompasses a large area of approximately 4,000 acres, making it particularly vulnerable to further land encroachment.
The priest also highlighted the daily hardships faced by residents, including military barriers and checkpoints restricting movement between villages and cities in the region.
Describing the situation as “very difficult,” Father Fawadleh voiced a plea shared by many in the community.
“We still have hope,” he said. “We are raising our voice to say that we are a civilian Palestinian people. We want to live in peace. We want to live in justice.”
He called on the international community to witness the situation firsthand and to act to ensure security and protection for the local population.
“We ask the world to come and see, to stop these actions, and to allow us to live in safety and peace.”
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