HOLY LAND: Church leaders condemn violent attack on Christian town in West Bank
Christian leaders in the Holy Land have today (14th July) accused Israeli authorities of supporting extremist attacks on the Christian-majority town of Taybeh.
Extremist settlers a week ago (7th July) torched cars, attacked homes and set ablaze the fifth-century century Church of St George, damaging its adjoining cemetery.
Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches of Jerusalem in Taybeh.
Following today’s visit by diplomats and Church leaders, including Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, a joint statement was issued in Taybeh Town Hall which held authorities responsible for enabling the actions of extremist settlers in the West Bank.
“The Council of Patriarchs and Heads of Churches calls for these radicals to be held accountable by the Israeli authorities, who facilitate and enable their presence around Taybeh.
“Even in times of war, sacred places 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 why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished.”
Taybeh’s Roman Catholic parish priest Fr Bashar Fawadleh told Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that “Twice we called the centre for coordination between the Palestinian Government and the Israeli Government, they said they were coming, but they never came.
“They didn’t protect us, they didn’t stop the settlers, and this is because they protect the settlers, because a lot of the soldiers come from the settler communities, and they are encouraged by the fanatical elements in the Government.”
The Church leaders added: “The attacks by the hands of settlers against our community, which is living in peace, must stop, both here in Taybeh and elsewhere throughout the West Bank.
“This is clearly part of the systematic attacks against Christians that we see unfolding throughout the region.”
Ten families have left since the most recent violence began, according to Fr Fawadleh.
He told ACN that there had been growing problems with the extremist settlers in the run up to the recent violence.
Fr Fawadleh said: “Every morning, for almost one month, a settler would come to graze a large herd of cows among our olive groves, which are very famous for their quality.
“Here people live mainly from the sale of olive oil.
“The cows have been destroying the trees and will ruin the harvest season, which is in October.
“Without the harvest, there is no life in the town.”
Describing last week’s violence, Fr Fawadleh said: “We were very surprised when more than ten armed settlers attacked the very holy and important church of St George, or Al-Khadr, as we say in Arabic.
“They lit a fire beside the church, which dates back to the fifth century, and behind the cemetery.
“We were shocked, but more than 20 young people rushed with me to the site and managed to extinguish the fire, while they just stood by and watched.”
He added: “They have also blocked some streets with their cars, not letting us use them, while the main roads in and out of Taybeh continue to be blocked by army checkpoints and barriers.”
The Heads of Churches concluded their statement by calling on “diplomats, politicians, and church officials worldwide to provide a prayerful and outspoken voice for our ecumenical community in Taybeh, that their presence may be secured and that they can live in peace to worship freely, grow crops without danger, and live in a peace that seems to be in far too short supply.”