Taybeh – Sanad Sahelia / Nabd El-Haya – Member of the German Bundestag Thomas Röwekamp, representing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Chairman of the Defense Committee, sent a message to Palestinian Christians through Nabd El-Haya platform and radio, saying: “Stay strong. You are part of a large community, and you have our full support. We will do everything we can to help you live in peace. This is our moral duty, and we will stand by you as much as possible.”
The message came during a solidarity visit by Röwekamp on Wednesday to the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah. He was accompanied by Malte Engelmann, His office manager, Mareike Beutler, Head of the Secretariat of the Defense Committee in the Bundestag, and several staff members from the German Representative Office in Ramallah.
The visit included the Taybeh Municipality headquarters and the historic St. George (Al-Khader) Church, where he planted an olive tree in the churchyard, which had previously been set on fire by settlers. The visit concluded at the Catholic Church.
To view more photos: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17CKtnwjQ4/
Röwekamp: Religious Freedom Is a Duty
Röwekamp emphasized that the central message of the visit is that “no one should be threatened because of their religion, and we must defend all people who believe in God, regardless of how they practice their faith.”
He added: “Yes, I believe we need to speak more about minorities and how to protect them from attacks, especially Christian minorities around the world. In the Arab world in particular, this is not optional—it is a duty. It is a duty not only for believers but for every society committed to humanity.”
Röwekamp also invited German citizens to visit Taybeh, saying: “We invite everyone to visit Taybeh and experience the spirit of community and solidarity, and to understand that being Christian is not just a matter of faith, but also about solidarity and learning to live together. Here in Taybeh, you can see how challenging it is to live as a religious minority and the importance of defending religious freedom.”
Father Fawadleh: Resilience, Faith, Justice
Father Bashar Fawadleh, priest of the Christ the Redeemer Latin Parish in Taybeh, stated: “Our town is under continuous attacks by Israeli settlers, which imposes major challenges on our daily lives. We strive to protect human dignity, the sanctity of places of worship, and the right of the people to live in peace. Our resilience is not only in defense of Taybeh itself but also in defense of enduring truth and justice. We continue to pursue them with faith and patience, relying on God’s promise of justice and righteousness.”
He affirmed that “this resilience stems from our Christian faith,” which calls on us to protect the vulnerable and defend justice and love, remembering Christ’s teaching to carry the cross with hope for human salvation and dignity.
Father Fawadleh highlighted that the security and economic realities in Taybeh, as in neighboring villages and across the West Bank, impose significant pressures and challenges on citizens. Nevertheless, the parish and the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem continue their efforts to support residents and strengthen their resilience through various developmental and social initiatives.
He explained that these efforts include creating job opportunities and establishing small projects to provide sustainable income, alongside a housing project aimed at enabling young families to remain on their land. He also noted the cooperation with diplomatic missions and international institutions to protect residents and ensure their safety, emphasizing that the goal is to preserve the authentic Christian presence in Palestine, the Land of Faith and the cradle of Christianity.
Father Fawadleh also noted that the church implements pastoral, educational, and social programs for children, youth, and families, aiming to instill Christian values and promote a sense of solidarity and belonging to the town and the country, in addition to supporting education, developing professional and technical skills among youth, and assisting needy families in ways that preserve human dignity and reinforce the stability of the local community.
Taybeh Mayor: Ongoing Challenges
Taybeh Mayor Suleiman Khourieh briefed the visiting delegation on the town’s security situation, which worsens year by year, particularly during the olive harvest season, a primary source of income for residents.
He explained that repeated settler attacks over the past three years have prevented many farmers from accessing their lands for tree care or harvesting, resulting in significant economic losses and raising concern among the population.
Khourieh concluded by emphasizing that these attacks do not only affect farmers, but also extend to properties, homes, and roads leading to the fields, in the absence of effective protection from the Israeli authorities.
