Israeli Settlers Torch Cars, Vandalize Christian West Bank Village Taybeh

Israeli settlers, identified as members of the extremist group Hilltop Youth, attacked the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, torching cars, throwing stones, and spray-painting threatening graffiti on homes. The assault, which targeted residences including those of a local journalist and a village council member, has raised fears among Palestinian Christians about their safety and future in the region, with religious leaders expressing concern over the increasing violence and its impact on community stability. Despite the severity of the attacks, there have been no arrests, a common occurrence in such near-daily settler incidents in the West Bank, though Israeli police have opened an investigation. The violence has drawn international condemnation, including from U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Germany’s ambassador to Israel, who decried the acts as criminal and abhorrent to any faith. The attacks underscore ongoing tensions and the vulnerability of minority communities in the area, with local and international Christian leaders warning about the potential for increased emigration due to the persistent threats. Israeli forces entered the village following the attack, but accountability for the perpetrators remains elusive.