Taybeh Christians seek action after Israeli envoy downplays severity of attacks

Comments by Israel’s ambassador to the Holy See, Yaron Sideman, about the West Bank town of Taybeh have drawn attention among local Church leaders after he condemned the violence there but disputed accounts of its seriousness.

Speaking at the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy, Sideman said that “any act of violence against anyone is unacceptable” and that those responsible should be dealt with according to the law. However, he added that the situation in Taybeh had been “described in far more serious terms than it actually is.”

Sideman maintained that Israel is governed by the rule of law and guarantees religious freedom. He also assured pilgrims that visiting the holy sites is safe and encouraged them to return to the Holy Land.

The Observatory for the Christian Presence in the Holy Land said the ambassador’s characterization was inconsistent with the documented pattern of attacks and incursions affecting Taybeh — the last town in the West Bank with an entirely Christian population.

The incidents have been documented by the local Church and town institutions and followed by diplomatic missions, international media, and human rights organizations.

In July 2025, patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem visited Taybeh alongside diplomats and representatives from more than 20 countries following an escalation of attacks against the town and its religious sites.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, warned at the time that the violence was leading some Christians to consider leaving the West Bank.

The World Council of Churches reported in August 2026 that Taybeh had received more than 50 diplomatic visits over the previous year, in addition to continued media attention. The organization highlighted residents’ concerns about attacks, incursions, and the effects of the violence on their daily lives.

Father Bashar Fawadleh, the Latin Patriarchate’s parish priest in Taybeh and head of the Observatory for the Christian Presence in the Holy Land, said the issue was not a series of isolated incidents but an accumulating reality affecting residents’ security, access to their land and livelihoods, and ability to remain in the town. He stressed that condemnations of the attacks must be followed by protection, accountability, and concrete measures to prevent their recurrence.

On Aug. 9, Israeli military authorities declared Taybeh closed to Israeli nonresidents. The military said the measure followed what it described as “violent attacks by Israelis” in the area and was intended to protect residents and maintain public order.

For local Christians, the official measure underscored the gap between the level of danger recognized by authorities on the ground and the ambassador’s assessment of the situation.

Christians in Taybeh are therefore repeating their invitation: “Come and see.” They are calling on visitors to meet the town’s families, farmers, and young people, listen to their testimonies, and witness firsthand the conditions affecting the Christian community, its land, and its property.