Taybeh – Nabd El-Haya – A delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem – Political section held a meeting at the Christ the Redeemer Latin Parish in Taybeh (Catholic), including Kevin Crisson, Political Section Chief, and Ms. Rose Antar. The meeting brought together the delegation with Fr. Bashar Fawadleh, parish priest, Sanad Sahelia, Executive Director of the Nabd El-Haya Media Platform and Radio, and Mr. Tamer Nasrallah, Principal of the Latin Patriarchate School in Taybeh.
The participants reviewed the local conditions in Taybeh and surrounding villages and discussed avenues of cooperation to support the resilience of residents and strengthen their historic presence.
Church Initiatives to Support Residents
Fr. Fawadleh provided a detailed overview of the escalating security challenges, highlighting repeated settler attacks, tightened movement restrictions at checkpoints and gates, and the resulting daily difficulties faced by residents, particularly farmers restricted from accessing their lands. He noted that these conditions have directly impacted the social and economic realities of the town, with declining income sources and rising living pressures threatening demographic stability.
He also outlined the local role of the Church through pastoral and development programs aimed at securing residents in their land, including initiatives to provide employment, support young families, and develop housing projects. The Church also collaborates with international institutions and diplomatic missions to offer accompaniment and a protective presence that reinforces community resilience.
These efforts are part of the mission of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, which manages an extensive network of parishes, schools, and social institutions across Palestine and Jordan, serving as a key spiritual and national reference for Christians in the Holy Land, alongside its educational and humanitarian role in serving all segments of society.
Nabd El-Haya: Christian Presence
Sanad Sahelia presented the work of the Nabd El-Haya platform and radio as a youth-oriented, social, cultural, and multimedia initiative. The platform seeks to amplify the local community’s voice to both domestic and international audiences, while emphasizing regional diversity and preserving the Eastern Christian heritage. It also focuses on highlighting the importance of protecting and strengthening the authentic Christian presence in Palestine, empowering youth socially and through media, and showcasing stories of resilience and daily life in Christian towns.
Latin Patriarchate School
Mr. Tamer Nasrallah reviewed the academic and extracurricular programs implemented at the Latin Patriarchate School in Taybeh. He emphasized the school’s commitment to providing quality education that balances academic curricula with extracurricular activities, including arts, sports, and social initiatives. These programs aim to foster human and national values among students, develop their personal and social skills, and contribute to community stability by engaging local teaching staff and providing educational and social services to all families without discrimination.
Exploring Avenues of Cooperation
The meeting also discussed possible areas of cooperation, including support for development, educational, and media projects, strengthening communication channels with relevant international institutions, and encouraging field visits to directly observe the conditions in Palestinian towns with historic Christian presence.
A Joint and Ongoing Effort
This meeting forms part of a continuous, collaborative effort between the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and the local Church on one hand, and diplomatic missions on the other, to monitor conditions in the West Bank, particularly in towns with historic Christian communities. Institutions affiliated with the Patriarchate continue to accompany residents, reinforce their resilience, and safeguard their historic presence in their homeland, within an ongoing framework that combines spiritual care with social service.