Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you.
Posted on 03/27/2026 1:19:19 AM PDT by Cronos
As Israeli settlers seized areas near the village’s quarry and cement factory, the village’s parish priest appealed to Christians worldwide for compassion and solidarity.
The parish priest of the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank appealed for the solidarity of Christians worldwide in the face of new attacks.
Father Bashar Fawadleh issued an appeal on Saturday, March 21, that the lands seized this week by Israeli settlers “belonged to the people of Taybeh and were, moreover, our private property.”
These incursions, he continued, in addition to constituting “a violation of international law and of the rights of the local community,” represent an affront that, for the village’s inhabitants, goes far beyond a mere legal or political matter.
“This story is about the life of a Christian community that has been present in this land...
Taybeh is the modern name of the biblical village of Ephraim, where Jesus went to rest shortly before his passion (cf. John 11:54). In addition to being the only entirely Christian village in the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza, it is also renowned for its beer.
In recent days, Israeli settlers have seized areas near the village’s quarry and cement factory. These encroachments have been ongoing for some time. In July 2025, settlers set fire in the area near the ruins of St. George Church, built in the historic Byzantine style and dating back to the fifth century, where the local community typically holds religious celebrations.
"This is a matter that concerns the entire Church. We ask for your prayers, and for your visits to the Holy Land and to the ‘living stones’ in Taybeh and throughout the Holy Land,” he said.
“And your support, so that Christians may remain here through education, housing, and employment opportunities.
(Excerpt) Read more at ewtnnews.com ...
|
|
Click here: to donate by Credit Card Or here: to donate by PayPal Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794 Thank you very much and God bless you. |
Reports confirm that Israeli settlers have entered the village, specifically targeting economic infrastructure like a cement factory and a quarry on the western outskirts. Eyewitness accounts and the local parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, reported that settlers raised Israeli flags and conducted religious rituals on private Palestinian land
While there are other towns in the West Bank with significant Christian populations (like Birzeit, Beit Sahour, or Bethlehem), Taybeh is widely recognized by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and international observers as the only village in the West Bank that remains 100% Christian.
Of course needless to point out, this is not about the Mohammedan persecution of Christians (which are too numerous to count). Israel and Israelis are far more civilized than Islamic countries and so are held to higher standards
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Police typically frame these events as “clashes” or “law enforcement incidents.”. According to local accounts and reports from The Times of Israel, when police are called to Taybeh (such as during the incursion into the cement factory), they often state that they are “monitoring the situation” or that the individuals were removed.
Bezalel Smotrich (Finance Minister & Minister in the Defense Ministry): He has recently made statements advocating for the “erasing of lines” between Israel and the West Bank, suggesting that settling all parts of the land is a national priority. His office generally views these areas as Jewish territory and often refers to Palestinian villages like Taybeh as “illegal outposts” or “encroachments” if they interfere with settler expansion.
Because the U.S., UK, and EU have begun imposing sanctions on extremist settlers and outposts, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has issued statements calling such sanctions an “interference in Israeli sovereignty.”
In diplomatic meetings, Israeli officials maintain that Israel is a “state of law” and that any illegal acts are handled by the courts, though they rarely provide data on successful prosecutions of settlers involved in the Taybeh attacks.
Taybeh is identified as the biblical town of Ephraim (or Ophrah). In the New Testament (John 11:54), it is recorded that after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he withdrew to this village with his disciples to find refuge and pray before his Passion and crucifixion in Jerusalem. The modern residents of Taybeh consider themselves the direct descendants of the early believers who welcomed Jesus.
The ruins of the original Church of St. George on the village’s eastern edge date back to the 5th century.
Local oral history from the Greek Orthodox community even suggests that an earlier structure may have been commissioned by St. Helena (the mother of Emperor Constantine) in the 4th century.
The village is famous for its “Living Stones”—the local Christians who still speak Aramaic-influenced Arabic and maintain ancient traditions, including the production of olive oil and the famous Taybeh Beer.
The current attacks and incursions are viewed by church leaders as a direct threat to this 2,000-year unbroken chain of Christian heritage in its original “cradle.”
I need to balance this out by pointing out that in Israel proper Christians do not face these situations as at Ephraim.
Statistically, Arab Christians are the most highly educated demographic in Israel. As of 2025, they have higher rates of high school matriculation and university degrees than both the Jewish and Muslim populations.
Though the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue documented over 111 major incidents of violence and harassment in 2024 alone. This includes ultra-Orthodox extremists spitting on clergy, pepper-spraying pilgrims, and vandalizing church properties (like the Abbey of the Dormition).
So the situation in Israel proper is nuanced, but the situation in Taybeh seems very clear that the Christians there are under pressure
EWTN...
Consider the source...
That village will lose its lands, and already is surrounded by checkpoints.
Again, note the source. On the “...widely known as the last fully Christian Palestinian town in the West Bank...”
Uh huh.
Here is a really interesting story about the history of the Taybeh Brewery.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taybeh_Brewery
Taybeh Brewery, lit. “Delicious Brewery”) is a brewery founded in 1994 in the West Bank village of Taybeh, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Jerusalem, by Nadim Khoury and his brother David, members of the local Palestinian Christian community. It is considered to be the first Palestinian brewery and the first microbrewery in the whole Middle East, having predated the first Israeli microbrewery by about ten years.
This story outlines many of the abuses by Israel that cause friction between the various communities. I’m not anti-Israel, but always seek to better understand the roots of conflict.
Taybeh translates to “the Good” in Arabic.
I did check other sources includes Israeli and they concur with this article
I checked multiple sources that say the same thing as this article. Don’t shoot the messenger
There are such incidents - do you really doubt the presence of Christians and Christianity in the Holy Land??
The settlers sometimes do wrongs - as in this case. The Israeli state doesn’t give them a blanket “do what you like”, so why do you?
Again, as i pointed out above, this is not about Israel as a whole leave alone Israelis or “Jews” - it is about a concrete set of incidents. Israel as a modern, civilized, highly cultured state is to be held to a higher standard than, say Pakistan.
Christians are the only force keeping the World from sliding back into Idol Worship, Human Sacrifice, and Cannibalism. They must be destroyed.
Taybeh is identified as the biblical town of Ephraim (or Ophrah). In the New Testament (John 11:54), it is recorded that after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, he withdrew to this village with his disciples to find refuge and pray before his Passion and crucifixion in Jerusalem. The modern residents of Taybeh consider themselves the direct descendants of the early believers who welcomed Jesus.
The article was published on the 23rd. I'm just noting the topic in its time and place in general, with Passover coming up. And also for today's date [of its posting here], "six days before the passover":
Friday, March 27, 2026
9 Nissan, 5786
John 11-12
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.
48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,
50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;
52 And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.
53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.
54 Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.
55 And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
56 Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?
57 Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.
1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.
Bkmk
Consider the poster.
The freak even replied to himself six times before anyone else could say anything.
Just ignore crazy.
Bookmark
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.