Christian Community in Taybeh Faces Existential Threat from Israeli Settlers
A strategy ‘to make life intolerable’: Israeli settlers are driving Christians out of West Bank
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
Taybeh, a historic Christian town in the West Bank, is under siege from increasing attacks by Israeli settlers, threatening its existence. The community, which has survived various conquests for centuries, now faces land grabs and violence, prompting fears of ethnic cleansing as the Christian population dwindles.
- 01Taybeh, one of the oldest Christian communities, is facing existential threats from Israeli settlers.
- 02The local population has decreased from 5% in 1967 to about 1% today, with 15 families leaving in the past two years.
- 03Settlers have engaged in harassment, land grabs, and violence, including attacks on local churches.
- 04The Israeli government has approved measures for property purchases in the occupied West Bank, increasing fears of annexation.
- 05Local activists warn that settlements threaten to erase the Christian presence in the region.
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Taybeh, a small town in the West Bank known for its ancient Christian heritage, is experiencing a surge in violence and intimidation from Israeli settlers, jeopardizing its long-standing community. Historically significant as a refuge for Jesus and his disciples, Taybeh has seen its population dwindle from 5% of the total West Bank population in 1967 to roughly 1% today, with only about 1,100 residents remaining. The town has been surrounded by settlements, leading to land grabs and harassment, particularly from groups of young settlers known as 'hilltop youth'. Reports indicate that settlers have set fires to churches and vandalized property, while local residents are often accompanied by foreign diplomats during harvests for safety. The Israeli government's recent approval of property purchases in the occupied West Bank raises concerns about potential annexation. Activists warn that the ongoing settlement expansion threatens the very existence of Christian communities like Taybeh, which have survived numerous historical challenges over the centuries.
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The increasing violence and intimidation from settlers are forcing families to leave Taybeh, threatening the survival of this historic Christian community.
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