The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem have issued a joint statement strongly condemning a violent attack carried out by masked settlers in the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh. The incident targeted local residents who were harvesting olives, as well as European diplomats and officials visiting the area on a solidarity mission. Emphasizing that this was not an isolated event, Church leaders warned of a broader, wide-scale campaign of intimidation facing Palestinian villages in the West Bank during the critical olive harvest season—a vital time when families gather to secure their livelihoods and honor generations-long ties to their land.
Addressing the ideological motives behind the violence, the Church leaders denounced a recently published religious ruling that purported to allow the taking of Palestinian olives, calling it “unfounded, very worrying, dangerous, and absolutely unacceptable.” While thanking Israeli President Isaac Herzog and various Jewish figures and rabbis who publicly rejected the ruling, the leaders warned that attacks persist largely due to a climate of impunity. They acknowledged recent interventions and arrests made by Israeli police, expressing hope that law enforcement actions will remain consistent and serious moving forward.
The statement concluded with an urgent appeal to domestic authorities to bring all perpetrators to justice, while calling on the international community to step up efforts to protect the residents of Taybeh and the broader West Bank. Reaffirming their unwavering support for Taybeh’s community, the Christian leaders pledged to do everything possible to preserve the historic Christian presence in the region. They offered prayers for all inhabitants of the Holy Land, expressing hope for a future defined by security, justice, and peace.