Living in Fear: Taybeh, the Last All-Christian Town in the West Bank, Faces Escalating Settler Attacks

Residents of Taybeh, the last all-Christian town in the occupied West Bank, are grappling with mounting fear and violence as frequent attacks by Israeli settlers disrupt their daily lives. Sandra and Roland Basir, local residents, now keep fire extinguishers inside their home as a precaution against nearby settler violence. Roland's stone quarry and concrete-block factory, into which he invested an estimated $5m, has been effectively abandoned after repeated incursions by armed settlers who set fire to equipment and raised Israeli flags.

For years, Taybeh remained largely untouched by the broader conflicts affecting the region. Identified traditionally with biblical Ephraim, the town is home to roughly 1,200 people and houses significant historical sites like the ruins of the fifth-century Church of St George. However, the situation has sharply deteriorated as surrounding settler outposts have multiplied, with Mayor Suleiman Khourieh estimating that about seven outposts now encircle the town.

Local business owners, including Madees Khoury of the Taybeh Brewery, report severe economic impacts and restricted access to vital resources such as the Ein Samiya spring. Despite the Israeli army declaring Taybeh and the neighbouring village of Rammun a closed military zone, residents express deep skepticism that the measure will curb settler violence or protect their properties. Nevertheless, community leaders like Father Bashar Fawadleh and Mayor Khourieh emphasize their determination to remain rooted in their ancestral land despite the escalating pressures.