Church leaders in Jerusalem condemn attacks on Christian village

The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem condemned attacks by masked Israeli settlers against residents of Taybeh and foreign diplomats in the West Bank. The group issued the statement following incidents on October 16 and 17 during the annual olive harvest.

Church leaders stated that Palestinian villages in the West Bank have faced widespread settler violence that has increased during the harvest season. They described the attacks on the Christian village of Taybeh and its residents as part of a larger pattern rather than isolated incidents.

On October 16, an American photographer was injured while documenting olive harvesters near Taybeh and required hospital treatment. The following day, masked settlers attacked French, Belgian, and Polish diplomats, a French mayor, and the Archbishop of Cambrai in another part of the West Bank. Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in France, reported being thrown to the ground during the encounter. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was also damaged during the attacks.