Taybeh Declared Closed Military Zone as Settler Incursions Disrupt West Bank Christian Town
The Israeli army’s designation of Taybeh as a closed military zone has failed to halt coordinated settler attacks, with locals describing a governance vacuum that has driven emigration and devastated the local economy.
The Israeli army has declared Taybeh, the last all-Christian town in the occupied West Bank, a closed military zone following a series of coordinated attacks by settlers. The order, issued on 9 August 2026, bars entry to Israelis and foreigners without specific connections to the village. However, residents and local officials report that enforcement remains selective and ineffective, with settlers continuing to seize land, destroy property, and restrict access to resources such as water springs and vineyards.
Taybeh, home to approximately 1,200 residents, has seen a sharp escalation in violence over the past year. Incidents include arson, the destruction of private property, and the establishment of new settler outposts on municipal and private land. Mayor Suleiman Khourieh reported that a new outpost was established on his private vineyard in Area B just last week, where settlers have taken control of his well. Peace Now data indicates that at least 21 of the roughly 390 illegal outposts in the West Bank are located in Area B, nominally under Palestinian civil administration but effectively controlled by those willing to enforce presence on the ground.
The economic impact has been severe. Madees Khoury, owner of the Taybeh Brewery, stated that revenues have dropped by 80 per cent compared with pre-October 2023 levels. She noted that fifteen families have left the town in the past two years, and tourism, once a key revenue source, has collapsed. Roland Basir, a local business owner, reported that 30 to 40 settlers stormed his stone quarry in March, raising Israeli flags and destroying equipment. He alleges that stone from his land was registered under a settler’s name and resold, leading him to abandon operations.
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating earlier this year that outposts in Area B should be evacuated, enforcement has been blocked by far-right government officials. The military zone declaration has confused residents, with some noting that while visitors are removed, settlers remain. Basir reported that on the day the closure was announced, settlers broke into his office and smashed equipment; police arrived two and a half hours later, by which time the settlers had already left.
Local leaders describe a profound sense of isolation and fear. Father Bashar Fawadleh, priest of Taybeh’s Christ the Redeemer Church, said residents feel the order does not actually forbid settlers from entering. Mayor Khourieh emphasised that the town’s Christian community intends to remain, stating, “We will not leave it. Even if we die, we’ll be buried in it, because it’s holy ground.” Al Jazeera has reached out to Israeli authorities for comment but has not received a response.
