The parish priest in Palestine’s last entirely Christian village has said that Israeli settlers are creating a “climate of fear” with the intention of driving locals from their land.

In an interview with Vatican News, Father Bashar Fawadleh from Taybeh explained the immense pressure locals were under from settlers, including intimidation, seizures of properties, and efforts to expand settlements.

On August 5, settlers broke into the home of one of the families in Fawadleh’s parish, which he said was “not an isolated incident.”

On Sunday, the Israeli military closed Taybeh to non-residents, a restriction that a military spokesperson said only applies to Israelis and has been enacted because of “several violent attacks by Israelis in the region.”

“Unfortunately, what we are witnessing right now is deeply alarming,” he said, noting that the house in question “had just been prepared for its occupants to move in.”

“Over the span of several days,” he said, “two settlers broke into the property multiple times. They occupied the land and brought a flock of sheep right up to the house.”

“The settlers also cut through the fencing,” he said.

“It is a deliberate strategy of harassment designed to create a climate of fear and [to] pressure Palestinian families into leaving their land. We give thanks to God that the family is physically safe,” he added.

“Imagine preparing a home for your family, only to find out that strangers have been trespassing and occupying it at will. That is the reality we are living here in Taybeh. In fact, as I speak to you right now, those same settlers have returned to pitch tents on the property. It is an incredibly difficult situation to endure,” he also told Vatican News.

“Many families across the west, east, and south of Taybeh are suffering from this settler violence. As they always do, they have been setting fire to vacant land. Most recently, they torched a hillside southeast of the village. The Israeli settlers come to cause harm and occupy the land,” Fawadleh said.

“Over the last few months, the situation has deteriorated dramatically. Almost daily, we face incursions, attacks on private property, the destruction of farmland, road closures, travel restrictions, and relentless pressure on the population,” he added.

In the New Testament, Taybeh is referred to as Ephraim, a town where Jesus and his disciples stayed after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

“It is a vital, foundational symbol for everyone, especially as we prepare for the 2033 Jubilee, marking two millennia since Jesus Christ walked this earth. Taybeh stands on the front lines of preserving Christianity here in the Holy Land,” Fawadleh said.

“Jesus chose to seek refuge in Taybeh before his passion, death, and resurrection. We must remain a living testament to Christianity and its enduring presence in the Holy Land. The world must stand with Taybeh,” he added.

Fawadleh also called for the international community to help Palestinians suffering under such conditions, and also asked for prayers.

“We feel forgotten, and we feel entirely alone. Legal options exist, but they are unfortunately very limited and rarely effective. That is why international presence and pressure are vital right now. We need concrete protection for civilians and genuine political will to bring an end to this violence,” he said.

“Do not forget Taybeh. I invite every Catholic diocese worldwide to speak out about the situation here, to talk about these Christian brothers and sisters who are living in terror. The birthplace of the Christian community must not vanish into silence,” he added.

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