Jerusalem Church Leaders Condemn Attacks on Christian Village of Taybeh
TAYBEH, WEST BANK — October 22, 2026
Church leaders in Jerusalem have strongly condemned attacks by masked Israeli settlers against residents of Taybeh, a Palestinian village widely recognised as the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank.
The attack took place on Saturday, October 17, during the annual olive harvest. According to a statement issued by the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, local residents and visiting foreign diplomats and officials were targeted during a solidarity visit to the area.
The church leaders described the incident as a serious act of violence and warned that attacks against Palestinian communities in the West Bank have intensified during the olive-harvesting season.
They also welcomed Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s condemnation of the violence and acknowledged that Israeli police had made arrests following the incident. However, they urged authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice and that the community receives lasting protection.
The statement called on the international community to increase efforts to safeguard Taybeh’s residents, churches, and Christian presence in the Holy Land.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of Christian communities in the region and their ability to remain securely on their ancestral lands.
Source: Vatican News, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and Aid to the Church in Need.
