In the hills east of Ramallah, the village of Taybeh stands as the last entirely Christian community in the West Bank—a place where ancient stone houses, olive groves, and church towers tell a story stretching back centuries. But today, its 1,400 residents are living under what their parish priest calls “mounting pressure,” facing a combination of settler attacks, land seizures, and tightening military control that is pushing many to consider leaving their ancestral home.
“We are living through one of the most dangerous moments since 1967,” says Father Bashar Fawadleh, priest of the Latin parish. “Do not let Palestinian Christians become a memory of the past.”
A Village Under Strain
For months, Taybeh has endured a series of hostile acts: agricultural lands set on fire, cars torched, the walls of an ancient church scorched, and threatening graffiti sprayed across village property. Livestock have been released into fields, damaging crops. Military checkpoints—some newly installed—now control who enters and leaves the village, often bringing daily life to a standstill.
The situation worsened after 8 February 2026, when the Israeli government adopted an administrative decision expanding its civil and military authority over land and real estate in the West Bank. Many Palestinians fear the move signals the beginning of formal annexation.
“This decision transfers responsibilities that were supposed to remain under Palestinian management,” Father Fawadleh explains. “It encourages settlement expansion. It isolates towns and villages. It increases demolitions and movement restrictions. And it puts enormous pressure on communities like ours.”
The consequences for Taybeh are immediate and deeply personal.
– Families are losing homes.
– Workers cannot reach their jobs.
– Students struggle to get to school.
– Farmers are blocked from their olive groves—the backbone of the village economy.
In late February, settlers entered land belonging to a local family and stole a horse and its foal. Other families report being prevented from harvesting olives or accessing farmland that has belonged to them for generations.
“The violence creates a climate of fear and insecurity,” Father Fawadleh says. “And the lack of protection leaves residents without legal support.”
The Slow Emptying of a Christian Village
Between 2023 and 2025, sixteen families left Taybeh. More are considering it.
“Unfortunately, the idea of emigration is increasingly present in people’s minds,” the priest admits. “I understand the fear. Parents want safety and a future for their children.”
But he also speaks of a deeper calling.
“The Christian presence in Taybeh is a mission and a living testimony,” he says. “Staying is often an act of faith and hope. Hope does not deny the difficulties, but it reminds us that human dignity, justice, and peace remain possible.”
Still, he insists that faith alone cannot carry the burden. “To encourage those who remain, we need concrete support—jobs, opportunities for young people, strong parish solidarity. Every family must feel they are not alone.”
A Call to the World
Father Fawadleh
Father Fawadleh is clear about what he hopes to see from the international community.
“I expect the world to visit us, to document what is happening, and to take clear action to guarantee the safety of civilians, access to agricultural lands, and the protection of places of worship,” he says. “We need an end to impunity.”
He calls on the universal Church to raise its voice “strongly and constantly” for Christians in the Holy Land, and on international Christian organisations to continue supporting education, housing, employment, and psychological and spiritual care.
As he reflects on the future, Father Fawadleh’s message to Christians around the world is both urgent and hopeful.
“Taybeh is not just a village; it is a living sign of the Christian presence in the Holy Land,” he says. “Pray for us, but also support us through your actions and your commitment. Help us ensure that Christians here remain a living community—rooted in faith, not a memory of the past.”
