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Taybeh, the last entirely Christian Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank, has become the target of coordinated settler attacks that have transformed daily life for its approximately 1,200 residents. The historic community, traditionally identified with the biblical site of Ephraim and home to the fifth-century Church of St George, remained largely insulated from regional conflicts for decades. However, over the past three years, the situation has deteriorated significantly, with residents now living in constant fear of nighttime incursions and property destruction.
Local business owner Roland Basir has experienced the most severe consequences of these attacks. His stone quarry and concrete-block factory, built over 20 years with an estimated $5 million investment and once employing 40 workers, has been systematically targeted by settlers. In March, approximately 30 to 40 settlers conducted a coordinated raid on the site, raising Israeli flags, performing prayers, and destroying equipment and infrastructure. Despite documenting the attacks and filing complaints with authorities, Basir received no protection and ultimately abandoned the business.
The violence extends beyond commercial enterprises to residential areas. Residents now employ fire extinguishers to combat fires allegedly set by settlers, and children have stopped playing outdoors due to safety concerns. Mayor Suleiman Khourieh reports roughly seven settler outposts now surround the town, with several situated directly on municipal land. The attacks represent a dramatic shift for Taybeh, which previously remained largely untouched throughout the second Intifada and subsequent conflicts in the region.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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