Taybeh – Nabd Al-Haya – Father Bashar Fawadleh, priest of the Latin Parish of Christ the Redeemer in Taybeh, received an official delegation from the Czech Republic to review the parish’s activities, educational and media initiatives, and to gain firsthand insight into daily life in the town.
The delegation included senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the President’s Office, and the Czech Representative Office in Ramallah, led by Mr. Radek Rubeš, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Jakub Šlosárek, Head of the Representative Office.
Other members of the delegation included Mr. Petr Hladík, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Marta Hušková from the President’s Office, Mr. David Mertl, Deputy Head of the Representative Office, Mr. Tomáš Chlopčík, Head of the Economic Cooperation Section, and Mr. Eduard Soukup from the Middle East Department at the Czech Foreign Ministry.
The meeting also saw the participation of Tamer Nasrallah, Director of the Latin Patriarchate School in Taybeh, and Sanad Sahelia, Executive Director of the Nabd Al-Haya platform and radio station.
The Palestinian Reality from the Heart of Taybeh
Father Fawadleh welcomed the delegation, presenting an overview of daily life in Taybeh, located east of Ramallah. Taybeh is the only remaining fully Christian town in the West Bank. He noted that, despite its small size and population, the town reflects the broader realities of the Palestinian people, including economic, security, and social challenges. Residents face increasing pressures related to employment opportunities, rising living costs, movement restrictions, and the repeated attacks by settlers on land and property.
He highlighted that the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, together with Christian institutions and the Taybeh parish, continuously work to support families and strengthen their resilience through employment programs and social, health, and educational initiatives targeting youth, families, and students, within a comprehensive vision that links development with spiritual care.
Father Fawadleh emphasized that the parish’s work philosophy rests on three interconnected pillars: securing a dignified income for families, providing adequate housing for youth, and enhancing security and stability through cooperation with diplomatic bodies and international organizations. He said, “Through this threefold approach, we contribute to maintaining the rooted and authentic Christian presence in Palestine, not merely as a heritage or symbolic form, but as a daily testimony reflecting faith grounded in the Holy Land and the Church’s commitment to serving humanity wherever it is.”
Czech Interest in Peace and Development
Mr. Radek Rubeš, State Secretary of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed his deep appreciation for the initiatives undertaken by the Latin Church in Taybeh, affirming that his country closely follows developments in the Holy Land and values efforts to preserve its cultural and religious diversity.
He noted that the Czech Republic views support for education and civil society projects as a pathway to enhancing stability and peace, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and practical cooperation with all local partners in Palestine.
Mr. Rubeš also praised the experiences of the parish, the school, and Nabd Al-Haya in fostering a spirit of initiative and civic engagement, describing Taybeh as a model for how small communities can unite to serve the common good.
Media as Witness and Message
Sanad Sahelia presented the vision and operational approach of the Nabd Al-Haya platform and radio, which originated in Taybeh to serve as a local voice reflecting community life and narrating the stories of ordinary people without politicization or embellishment. He noted that the platform seeks to document Palestinian heritage and memory, highlighting the Christian presence as an integral part of national identity.
“Our mission is to present the true image of Palestine, where Muslims and Christians live side by side, facing challenges together in unity. For us, media is not just a profession but a testimony of existence,” Sahelia said.
He emphasized that engagement with Western and European media is essential to correct misconceptions about the Middle East, especially amid rising hate speech and Islamophobia, noting that Arab Christians have historically served as a cultural and humanitarian bridge between East and West, and that preserving this bridge is a shared responsibility.
Education in Service of Humanity and Society
Tamer Nasrallah, Director of the Latin Patriarchate School in Taybeh, presented the school’s programs, which combine academic education with value-based formation. He explained that the school aims to instill a sense of belonging and responsibility among students while encouraging innovation and social initiative.
He added that, despite limited resources, the school remains a hub for national and community formation in the town, hosting students from Taybeh and neighboring villages east of Ramallah, while promoting principles of justice, citizenship, and co-existence.
Nasrallah noted that the school operates according to the vision of the Latin Patriarchate schools, which place the human being at the center of the educational process and strive to develop well-rounded personalities that integrate faith, knowledge, and openness to others. He concluded that education in Patriarchate schools goes beyond knowledge transfer to nurturing responsible, active generations capable of contributing to peace and serving the common good, in line with the Church’s mission of serving humanity wherever it may be.
