Taybeh pastor: our Advent, stronger than settler violence
Fr Bashar Fawadleh spoke to AsiaNews about a “fragile" security situation in the West Bank Christian town where life has been “seriously disrupted”. Despite this, the faithful attend services, and the Churches offer “unity and ecumenism”. The desire of some families to flee is offset by the show of faith and resilience of those who choose to stay each day. Yet, hope is seen as “something fragile and profound.”
Milan (AsiaNews) – Taybeh is a village of about 1,500 people located some 30 km north of Jerusalem and east of Ramallah. It has three churches, and is known as the last Palestinian community in the West Bank inhabited entirely by Christians.
Fr Bashar Fawadleh, the local parish priest, spoke to AsiaNews about the current situation. Local security "is fragile,” he said, and normal life has been "seriously disrupted," as evidenced by "several alarming incidents,” some very recent.
The "psychological and emotional climate in Taybeh is mixed," but despite the "difficult and unstable circumstances,” the parish "continues to observe Advent with great spirituality."
More than 600 of the residents are Latin Catholics, while the others are Greek Orthodox and Greek Melkite Catholics.
Over the past few months, Jewish settlers have repeatedly targeted the area, attacking and setting fire to homes, prompting the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and the Greek Orthodox Primate, Theophilus III, to visit it in a show of solidarity.
The most significant threat, explains the priest, comes from the settlers who “burn or vandalise religious sites, including the area surrounding the historic Church of St George and the adjacent ancient cemetery.”
Settlers have carried out “frequent attacks on private property: cars set ablaze, olive trees uprooted, farmland destroyed, and livestock released into fields. The most recent incident involved the burning of two cars last Friday, 5 December.”
There have been cases of “rape and intimidation on the roads surrounding Taybeh, making travel to Ramallah or neighbouring villages more dangerous.”
This escalation has badly affected the local economy, “particularly agriculture and small-scale tourism. Students and workers face delays or unexpected dangers on the roads. Many families live in constant fear of another attack at any moment. In short, security is fragile, and normal life is severely disrupted.”
Yet, despite such “difficult and unstable” circumstances, the Christian community is celebrating Advent “with great spirituality”, the priest said.
In addition to Masses and prayers, Christmas Nights began on 4 December, with music filling the village streets. Hundreds of Christians attended the opening day, held in the Latin monastery, whose theme was “Our Christmas, a Story of the land”, as did foreign delegations, government officials, and diplomats.
This is a test of the “unity and ecumenism" of the Churches, noted Father Bashar, who added that the theme of the activities are a way to remember “our suffering under the occupation and settlers, the burning of land and cars, overgrazing, and the destruction of crops.”
Meanwhile, a committee set up by local priests “continues its activities, holding services, preparing catechism programmes, and gathering families for prayer.” Hence, “we decided to hold these celebrations under a theme that links the land to the Nativity, for it is from this land that the story is always written.”
Still, “The psychological and emotional climate in Taybeh is mixed.”
“On the one hand, many residents are showing remarkable resilience,” and strengthened “their sense of mission to stay” because “their very presence is a testament to their faith,” and “many find strength in prayer and solidarity.”
On the other, “The population – especially young people and families – faces daily anxiety due to settler attacks, unexpected checkpoints, and disruptions to daily life.” Some families have emigrated recently, and many others are seriously considering leaving – one has just done so.
“While faith remains present and meaningful, the community is also experiencing genuine trauma, exhaustion, and fear. These two feelings coexist: unwavering faith and profound vulnerability.”
Cardinal Pizzaballa and Patriarch Theophilus III brought solace a few months ago after one of the many settler attacks on the local Christian community.
“The visit,” Father Bashar explained, “brought moral support, international attention, and a renewed sense that the community’s suffering is seen and acknowledged by the wider Church.”
For residents in Taybeh, “the presence of Church leaders – whether through visits, statements, or humanitarian initiatives – helps them feel less isolated.
“The Church remains a spiritual and social pillar. It provides education through its schools, maintains community life, advocates globally for protection and dignity, and creates temporary and permanent employment opportunities through local Church institutions.”
At the same time, he warned that, “many residents realistically understand that while the Church offers support and assistance, it cannot single-handedly change the overall political and security situation,” and so “the challenges remain immense.”
Finally, Father Bashar expressed his thoughts about the Jubilee Year and the meaning of the word “hope” in a place like Taybeh.
“In Taybeh,” he said, “hope has become something both fragile and profound. Hope means, holding onto faith despite fear, continuing daily life despite uncertainty, believing that peace and justice are still possible in a land torn apart by conflict.”
“For many,” he explained, “hope is rooted in faith, prayer, religious observances, and belief in God's presence in suffering; in solidarity, families supporting one another and refusing to leave their ancestral land; and in witness, the conviction that preserving the Christian presence in the Holy Land is vital to the entire global Church.”
Finally, for Father Bashar, “hope is neither easy nor to be taken lightly. It is a persistent hope, a hope that endures despite pain, displacement, and growing fear of the future. Yet, it remains the force that prevents despair and inspires those who choose to stay.”
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22/07/2025 20:06
