Catholic and Orthodox bishops and other heads of churches in the Holy Land issued a statement charging Israeli authorities with facilitating repeated Israeli settler terrorist attacks upon Christians and other Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
After a second assault upon the Christian town of Taybeh in as many weeks on Monday, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem (PHCJ) issued a statement decrying the “prevailing climate of impunity” for such crimes of aggression by Israeli settlers backed by Israeli authorities who fail to hold these terrorists accountable.
The prelates, including Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressed their “unwavering condemnation following yet another violent assault” against the Christians in this town. “Several vehicles were set ablaze, and hateful graffiti was sprayed — an unambiguous act of intimidation directed at a peaceful and faithful community rooted in the land of Christ.”
READ: Israeli settlers again commit terrorist attack against West Bank Christian village
“This grievous incident is not an isolated occurrence. It forms part of an alarming pattern of settler violence against West Bank communities, including their homes, sacred spaces, and ways of life,” they explained.
BREAKING: At 2:30 AM Palestine time, a group of Israeli settlers stormed the Christian village of Taybeh, near Ramallah in the West Bank—setting vehicles on fire, hurling rocks at homes, and spraying hateful graffiti on the walls.
As a result of the attack, two cars were set… pic.twitter.com/rFs35f8pj4
— Ihab Hassan (@IhabHassane) July 28, 2025
They recalled a July 7 attack when masked settlers entered Taybeh, “some armed, others on horseback,” grazing their animals on the private lands of the Christians, roaming the streets, “spreading terror and threatening the sanctity of daily life.” Some of the assailants also set a fire near a Christian cemetery that threatened the ancient church of St. George, “a living testament to the Christian faith’s enduring presence in the Holy Land.”
“We regret that official Israeli police statements reduced the matter solely to property damage, omitting the broader context of systematic intimidation and abuse,” the Christian prelates admonished. “These omissions distort the truth and fail to address violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including the right to religious freedom and the protection of cultural heritage.”
They continued condemning “the reactionary disinformation campaign by Israeli settler-affiliated groups, launched in response to recent diplomatic visits to Taybeh.”
The bishops charged these “distortions” seek “to discredit victims … deflect scrutiny and sanitize criminal conduct in violation of international norms.”
After a directed open letter and petition by human rights activist Jason Jones, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited Taybeh on July 19 to interview the local residents and inspect the damages inflicted on the Christian town during the July 7 terrorist attack.
In a statement after his visit, Huckabee pledged that “it’s my desire to do everything possible to let the people of this peaceful village know that we will certainly insist that those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh – or anywhere – be found and be prosecuted.”
Additionally, five days earlier, the Patriarchs assembled in Taybeh to issue a statement regarding these ongoing terrorist attacks against their people as well, attracting significant media attention.
READ: Holy Land bishops urge Christians worldwide to help defend faithful from Israeli settler attacks
But harsh condemnations from these religious leaders, along with the sitting U.S. Ambassador to Israel, proved insufficient for deterring further settler terrorism against this besieged Christian town.
Given these factors, the PHCJ continued saying they are “gravely troubled by the prevailing climate of impunity, which undermines the rule of law and jeopardizes peaceful coexistence in the land of the Resurrection.”
“The lack of accountability not only threatens Christian communities but also weakens the moral and legal foundations that uphold peace and justice for all,” they said.
With this in mind they “demand the Israeli government to act with moral clarity and commitment,” to hold accountable “without delay” the settler-terrorists responsible for these crimes, ensure the “effective and consistent protection” of Taybeh and other vulnerable Palestinian communities, and to uphold their nation’s “obligations under international law and guarantee equality before the law.”
They closed by expressing gratitude to “the diplomatic missions and international partners who have visited Taybeh and stood in solidarity with its people.”
“Your presence offers hope and moral strength. We urge you to continue your support. The aggression persists — and so must our united vigilance and prayer for peace rooted in justice,” the prelates concluded.
We need to prevent the total ethnic cleansing of the oldest Christian community in the world.
