Christians in the Holy Land are enduring a wave of attacks and intimidation in Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank. Father Bashar Fawadleh, the Latin parish priest, reports «mounting pressure» following an Israeli government decision on February 8, 2026, to strengthen civil and military authority over West Bank lands. This administrative shift is considered dangerous, with many viewing it as the beginning of an official annexation.
Daily struggles for Christians in the Holy Land
The 1,400 souls in Taybeh face daily disruptions due to military checkpoints and settler violence. Hostile acts range from setting fire to agricultural lands and ancient church walls to threatening graffiti. On February 28, settlers even entered private land to steal a horse and its foal. These actions isolate the village and prevent farmers from accessing their olive trees, which are vital for their livelihoods.
The lack of economic prospects and persistent insecurity has led many to consider emigration; 16 families left Taybeh between 2023 and 2025.
“Leaving the land is sometimes a human necessity, but 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”.
A call for universal solidarity
Father Fawadleh maintains that the presence of Christians in the Holy Land is a mission and a living testimony of a faith rooted where Christianity was born. He calls on the international community and organizations like Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to provide pastoral and material support, specifically in housing, jobs, and education, to help families remain.
“Taybeh is not just a village; it is a living sign of the Christian presence in the Holy Land. Help us ensure that the Christians of this land remain a living community, rooted in faith, and not a mere memory of the past”.
