A Greek Orthodox priest in Taybeh, the only entirely Christian town in the West Bank, has condemned a wave of settler violence that threatens the survival of one of Christianity’s oldest communities.
On July 7, Greek Orthodox Father Daoud Khoury, along with Latin and Melkite church leaders, denounced arson attacks near Taybeh’s ancient fifth-century Church of Saint George and cemetery.
“These assaults threaten the security and stability of our town and aim at undermining the dignity of its residents and the sanctity of its sacred land,” they said in a joint statement.
The priests warned that illegal settlement expansion, attacks on olive groves, and settler incursions – often under the watch of Israeli soldiers – are placing the village’s Christian presence at risk.
They appealed to global political and religious leaders to intervene, investigate, and support Taybeh’s embattled community.
Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, echoed the condemnation, urging international action: “The Holy Land cannot remain alive without its indigenous people.”
Source: The Catholic Weekly
