RAMALLAH, July 14, 2025 (WAFA) – Attacks by Israeli colonists on the Christian town of Taybeh in the Ramallah governorate reveal a systematic policy against the Palestinian people and demand immediate international action, the Higher Presidential Committee for Church Affairs in Palestine said on Monday.
The Committee made these remarks as it took part in a solidarity gathering to condemn the recurring attacks by Israeli colonists on the town’s Christian residents and their holy sites.
“The event aimed to send a clear and urgent message to the international community: the targeting of the Christian presence in Palestine is no longer incidental, it is a systematic policy that necessitates a firm and immediate international response,” the Committee said in a press statement.
The Committee stressed that colonists’ attacks against Palestinian Christians “represent flagrant violations of international law and of conventions that guarantee the protection of places of worship and freedom of religion.”
It called on the international community and churches around the world to “take urgent action and exert pressure on governments to adopt real, enforceable measures to halt Israeli violations, ensure freedom of worship, and preserve the spiritual and human diversity of the Holy Land.”
A conference was held under the theme “Come and See,” bringing together a distinguished gathering of religious and political leaders as well as diplomatic corps, notably Patriarch Theophilos III, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, and Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, alongside bishops, priests, ambassadors, consuls, and international media representatives.
The event also drew strong participation from Taybeh residents and a delegation from the Higher Presidential Committee, headed by Mousa Hadid.
Highlighting the suffering of the local residents under organized attacks by colonist groups, Rev. Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest of Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church in Taybeh, noted that these attacks have targeted Christian holy sites and private property alike. He emphasized that the plight of Palestinian Christians is inseparable from the broader suffering of the Palestinian people, affirming that Christians are not outsiders, but a deeply rooted and historic part of this land, present for thousands of years.
In a statement on behalf of the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, Patriarch Theophilos III condemned the Israeli attacks on Taybeh and underscored the urgent need to protect the Christian presence in the Holy Land. He emphasized the churches’ continued efforts to safeguard this presence amid systematic threats.
“What took place on July 7 is a direct assault on our religious and human heritage,” he stated.
“We categorically reject these exclusionary acts and reaffirm our commitment to a Holy Land where all faiths coexist in peace and dignity.”
The statement continued: “The Church has stood faithfully in this land for nearly two millennia, and we will not allow our presence to be erased. Even in times of war, holy sites must be respected and protected.”
“We call on diplomats, politicians, and church leaders around the world to raise their voices in defense of our community in Taybeh, so that it may live in peace, worship freely, and cultivate its land without fear,” it concluded.
The conference also featured a message from His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, delivered to Patriarch Theophilos III, in which His Majesty expressed Jordan’s full solidarity with the people of Taybeh and categorical condemnation of the barbaric attacks on St. George’s Church (Al-Khader) and the historic Christian cemetery. His Majesty stressed that the severity of colonist violence, their daily terrorization of Palestinians, and the broader campaign of aggression across towns, cities, and refugee camps in the occupied territories require a firm and unified international stance—particularly in light of the ongoing genocide against civilians, including children, women, and the elderly in Gaza.
The conference also included remarks from journalists, before participants proceeded to the historic St. George’s Church, where a special Mass was held and prayers were offered for the protection of Taybeh, its residents, and all Palestinian communities facing similar attacks.
The event concluded with a field visit to the areas recently targeted by settler violence and arson. Committee members and attendees heard firsthand testimonies from local residents who witnessed and endured the assaults.
K.F.
