Myriam Sandouno, Dorota Abdelmoula-Viet – Vatican City
“Do not forget Taybeh! Taybeh cannot disappear in silence”
This is the alarming appeal of Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, who describes the difficult situation in Taybeh—the last Christian village in Palestine, located east of Ramallah in the West Bank. Taybeh is mentioned in the Bible as Ephraim. Once, Jesus and His apostles received hospitality there. Today, the local community faces intimidation, the seizure of private property, including agricultural land and residential areas. In an interview with Vatican media, the pastor of the Latin parish of Christ the Redeemer appeals to the international community for action and asks the universal Church for prayerful support.
Settlers occupy courtyards and dismantle homes
Referring to recent events on August 5, when Israeli settlers broke into a house prepared for a family from the parish of Christ the Redeemer, Fr. Fawadleh stresses that the situation is “very dramatic.”
“This house had just been prepared for living in. However, for a few days, two settlers repeatedly entered it. They entered the property and brought a flock of sheep right up to the house. The settlers also dismantled part of the fence. This is not an isolated incident, but part of a harassment strategy aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear and forcing Palestinian families to leave their lands. We thank God that the family is physically safe and sound,” the pastor recounts. “During the last break-in, the family was not at home, but it must be said that this is a very difficult experience for them, both physically and psychologically. Imagine: you prepare your family’s home, and then you discover that strangers have freely entered it. This is the situation we live in here in Taybeh. At this very moment, as we are speaking, unfortunately these settlers have returned again to pitch tents. The situation is very difficult.”
Constant pressure and the feeling of being forgotten
The priest emphasizes that, in addition to land seizures, uninhabited properties are also being set on fire. “Almost every day we face intrusions and attacks on private properties, the destruction of agricultural land, road closures, and restrictions on movement; with constant pressure exerted on the population,” he says.
He highlights the sense of being forgotten and left alone that accompanies Christians in the West Bank. “The presence and pressure of the international community are extremely important today. We need concrete protection for civilians and a genuine political will to end this violence. We need help to be able to continue living here and to give witness to Jesus Christ and His disciples. This is a shared responsibility for the presence of Christianity here in Taybeh.” He adds that in the face of current difficulties, some residents want to abandon everything and leave their land.
“Do not forget Taybeh!”
“We call upon the universal Church to intensify prayers for us and to support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, as well as the entire Holy Land. We deeply believe that prayer works miracles,” the young priest appeals. “Do not forget Taybeh! I call upon all Catholic dioceses around the world to speak about the situation in Taybeh, about these Christian brothers and sisters who live in fear. The first Christian community in this land cannot disappear in silence. Together we can preserve this living witness of faith.”
Appeal to the Pope and the perspective of the 2033 Jubilee
The Palestinian priest emphasizes the solidarity of Christians—residents and Church representatives—who cooperate as much as possible, including with diplomatic and international institutions, striving to ensure that the fate of Taybeh is known and saved. “That is why right now, through your medium, I would like to ask Pope Leo XIV to do something for this last Christian village in the West Bank, to put an end to settler attacks and to stop them from seizing our lands. We want to live in peace, justice, and dignity,” he requests.
Asked about the significance of the Palestinian village, he emphasizes it, especially in the context of preparations for the Jubilee of the Year 2033, which—as he says—also commemorates Jesus’ presence on their land. “Jesus chose Taybeh before His passion, death, and resurrection. We must be a witness to Christianity and its presence in the Holy Land. We must stand with Taybeh,” he adds.
