Taybeh, the West Bank’s last all-Christian town, faces settler attacks, land seizures, fear and growing pressure on Palestinian Christian families.
Fear and Attacks Grip Taybeh, the Last All-Christian Town in the West Bank
Taybeh, a historic Palestinian Christian town in the occupied West Bank, is facing growing settler attacks, land seizures and increasing fear among its residents.
For families in Taybeh, everyday life has changed dramatically. Nights that were once peaceful are now filled with anxiety. Sandra, a mother of four, checks the doors several times before going to bed. Her family has even brought home a dog to alert them if anyone approaches their property.
Her seven-year-old son has stopped playing outside. For months, he also worried that his father might not return home from work.
“That’s what our life has become,” Sandra says, describing the fear affecting families across the town.
One of those struggling to protect his livelihood is Roland, who spent more than two decades building a stone quarry and concrete-block factory near Taybeh. He invested millions of dollars in the business and employed around 40 local Palestinians.
According to Roland, armed settlers repeatedly forced him and his workers away from the site. Heavy machinery was damaged or set on fire, while parts of the quarry were vandalised.
The most serious incident came in March, when dozens of settlers allegedly entered the quarry in a coordinated attack. Photographs and videos showed Israeli flags being raised at the site. Roland says the attackers damaged his office, electrical equipment and security cameras.
Despite filing complaints with authorities and seeking assistance from several institutions, he says the attacks continued. Eventually, he was forced to stop operations, leaving the quarry and factory largely abandoned.
“They’ve taken the quarry, taken the factory, taken the land,” he says. “What’s left for them to take?”
Taybeh Under Growing Pressure
Taybeh has long been regarded as a peaceful Palestinian Christian community. The town is traditionally associated with biblical Ephraim and is home to ancient Christian heritage, including the ruins of a fifth-century church.
Today, about 1,200 people live in Taybeh, making it the last Palestinian town in the West Bank with an entirely Christian population.
Residents say the situation began changing as Israeli settler outposts expanded around the surrounding hills. Local officials estimate that several outposts now surround Taybeh, with some located on land claimed by the municipality.
Residents report repeated incidents involving grazing animals, fires, property damage and restrictions on access to agricultural land. Christian leaders have also raised concerns about fires near religious sites and the cemetery.
Access to water has become another major concern. The Ein Samiya spring, which previously supplied water to Taybeh Brewery and nearby Palestinian communities, is now effectively controlled by settlers, according to local residents.
Madees Khoury, who runs the Taybeh Brewery founded by her family, says the town that once felt protected from regional violence now feels increasingly vulnerable.
Land Disputes and Settler Outposts
Local residents say settler activity has also affected privately owned land in areas of the West Bank that are nominally under Palestinian civil administration.
Mayor Suleiman Khourieh says a settler outpost was established near his vineyard. He alleges that settlers entered the property, removed locks, brought livestock onto the land and used his water well.
Although authorities reportedly removed a tent from the property, the mayor says settlers continue returning to the area.
The situation has left residents uncertain about whether they can safely reach their own farmland.
Fear of Losing Their Homes
Israeli authorities recently declared Taybeh and nearby Rammun a closed military zone following a series of incidents. Residents, however, question whether the measure will actually prevent settler attacks.
Instead, some fear that restrictions on visitors could further isolate the town without providing meaningful protection for local Palestinians.
The continuing violence is also worsening Taybeh’s economy. Tourism has declined sharply, while the town’s famous brewery has suffered a major fall in revenue. A once-popular hiking route now receives very few visitors.
The pressure is contributing to Christian emigration. According to local church officials, several families have left Taybeh in recent years, while others have moved abroad individually.
Palestinian Christians Determined to Stay
Despite the growing insecurity, many Taybeh residents say they do not want to leave their homes.
For Father Bashar Fawadleh, the local priest, remaining on the land is an important form of resilience.
“We want to remain rooted in this land,” he says, stressing the community’s desire for dignity, security, peace and justice.
Mayor Khourieh also insists that Palestinian Christians have a deep historical connection to Taybeh and have no intention of abandoning their town.
For residents, the struggle is about more than property. It is about preserving a community, its Christian heritage and its connection to the land.
As settler violence and pressure continue across parts of the West Bank, Taybeh has become a symbol of the challenges facing Palestinian Christians. Families are living with uncertainty, businesses are struggling and some residents have already left.
Yet those who remain continue to speak about hope.
For Father Bashar, that hope is essential in a community living through fear. Despite the attacks and uncertainty, Taybeh’s residents say they will continue defending their homes, preserving their heritage and remaining rooted in their historic Palestinian Christian town.
