Church Leaders Condemn Settler Attacks on West Bank Village of Taybeh

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem have issued a formal condemnation following a series of attacks on the West Bank village of Taybeh. Church leaders described the incidents, which occurred on October 16 and 17, as "heinous" and part of a broader pattern of violence targeting Palestinian villages during the critical annual olive harvest. The attacks reportedly involved harassment and vandalism, which residents say threaten the village's economic stability.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) declared Taybeh a "closed military zone" in August to protect residents, local clergy report that settlers continue to access the area. Church leaders criticized the perceived culture of impunity surrounding these events, noting that previous incidents have often gone unpunished. However, authorities have made arrests in connection with the most recent violence. The church leaders urged the Israeli government to take decisive action to prevent future occurrences and rejected claims by some groups that settlers have a legitimate right to seize crops from Palestinian-owned groves.