“These attacks not only pose a direct and intentional threat to our local community, they also endanger the historical and religious heritage of our ancestors and the holy sites. In the face of such threats, the greatest act of courage is for you to continue to call this city ‘home’. We stand in solidarity with you, we champion your fortitude. Know that you always have our prayers.” The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem did not mince their words in a joint statement denouncing recent attacks by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian village of Taybeh, the only entirely Christian village remaining in the West Bank. The latest attack took place on 7 July, when a group of settlers deliberately set fire to an area near the cemetery and the historic Church of Saint Georgetown’s cemetery and the 5th-century Church of St George.
The local Latin, Greek Orthodox and Melkite Greek Catholic priests issued a joint statement condemning the attack and requesting support in dealing with these repeated and systematic attacks.
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III read the message on Monday morning during a solidarity visit to Taybeh together with the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and other leaders of the Churches of Jerusalem.
The Church’s uninterrupted presence for 2,000 years.
Those of 7 and 11 July were only the latest in a series of repeated attacks, the statement reads: “The radicals have led their cattle to graze on the farms of Christians on the east side of Taybeh — the agricultural area — rendering them inaccessible at best, and damaging the olive groves that families depend on at worst.” Moreover, last month, “several homes were attacked by these radicals, who lit fires and erected a billboard bearing the message, translated into English, ‘There is no future for you here’, addressed to the inhabitants of Taybeh. In response, Christian religious leaders reaffirmed that
“the Church has had a faithful presence in this region for nearly 2,000 years.”
“We firmly reject this message of exclusion and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land that is a mosaic of different faiths living peacefully together in dignity and safety”, they write.
Transparent investigation. The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches call “for these radicals to be held accountable by the Israeli authorities. Even in times of war, holy sites must be protected.”
“We call for an immediate and transparent investigation into why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community, and into why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished.”
“The attacks by settlers against our community, which is living in peace, must stop, both here in Taybeh and elsewhere throughout the West Bank,” stated the Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem. They added that “this is clearly part of the systematic attacks against Christians that we see unfolding throughout the region.” “Furthermore, we ask diplomats, politicians and church officials worldwide to provide a prayerful and outspoken voice for our ecumenical community in Taybeh. Their presence must be secured so that they can live in peace, worship freely and grow crops without fear. We join our fellow clergy in Taybeh in reiterating this message of hope in the face of a persistent threat.”
The visit. The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem travelled to Taybeh on Monday morning for a meeting at the town hall with local delegates and representatives from the neighbouring villages of Kufur Malek and Al Mazra’ Al-Sharqiya. Members of the Diplomatic Corps and media representatives joined the delegation. The parish priests of Taybeh delivered a brief yet heartfelt greeting, which was then followed by a video presentation about Taybeh and its land. After Theophilos III read his message, the delegation took part in a procession to the Byzantine Church of St George, where the Christian leaders joined together in prayer before returning to Jerusalem.
