Christian Leaders Accuse Israeli Settlers of Attacking Holy Sites in West Bank, Urge Action Amid Rising Violence

Watan-Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred Christian sites in the occupied West Bank, with one patriarch warning that the escalating violence is driving members of the Christian community to consider emigration.

Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, visited the Christian town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, with fellow clergy from Jerusalem. He reported that settlers set fires near a fifth-century cemetery and church in the town last week.

At a press conference in Taybeh attended by diplomats and journalists, the patriarch declared:“These acts are a direct and deliberate threat to our local community… and to our historical and religious heritage.”

He added that settlers also attacked nearby homes.

The patriarch called for:“an immediate and transparent investigation into why the Israeli police failed to respond to emergency calls and why such hateful acts continue with impunity.”

The Israeli government has not responded to requests for comment, though it has previously stated that any violence by civilians is unacceptable, and that law enforcement should not be taken into private hands.

 Christian Community Fears and Resilience

During the visit, church leaders led a prayer service in the ancient 5th-century Church of St. George (al-Khader), its stone walls lit by candlelight. They spoke with local residents who voiced deep concerns about their future.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, warned that ongoing violence is pushing Christians to emigrate from the West Bank:“Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is real. This time, it’s very hard to see how or when this situation will end—especially for the youth who are losing hope in the future.”

There are approximately 50,000 Palestinian Christians living in Jerusalem and the West Bank, home to numerous sacred Christian sites, including Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

 Context of Escalating Violence

• Human rights group B’Tselem and others report a sharp increase in settler violence since the Israeli war on Hamas in Gaza began in late 2023.

• Israeli forces have intensified raids across the West Bank.

• Dozens of Palestinian street attacks have also occurred in recent years, prompting ongoing clashes.

• On Friday night, settlers killed two Palestinians, including an American citizen, according to Palestinian health authorities and eyewitnesses.

An estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem—territories Israel occupied in the 1967 war, and which Palestinians regard as part of their future state.