Settler Violence Targets Christian Village in West Bank: Wadephul's Visit Amidst the Unrest - Christian community in the West Bank welcomed by Wadephul in a village visit.
German Foreign Minister Addresses Rising Settler Violence in West Bank
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has visited the West Bank, expressing concern over the increasing incidents of Israeli settler violence against Palestinian communities. During his visit, Wadephul met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, where discussions focused on the surge in settler violence, particularly the recent attacks on the Christian village of Taibe (also known as Taybeh).
Taibe, a culturally and religiously significant village with a population of 1300, has been a target of extremist Jewish settlers in recent weeks. On July 27, two vehicles belonging to villagers were set on fire, and hateful anti-Arab slogans were sprayed on walls and houses. An earlier incident on June 26 saw the damage of a Christian holy site - the ruins of the Byzantine Church of St. George - by arson.
Religious leaders and international observers have condemned these acts and urged Israeli authorities to hold perpetrators accountable and provide effective protection for vulnerable communities. While the German government has emphasized humanitarian assistance, such as funding bakeries, soup kitchens, and a field hospital in Gaza, direct public statements or punitive measures specifically addressing settler violence in Taibe have not been detailed in recent reports.
Local reports on Taibe detail escalating violence from settlers, including property damage and attempts to set fire near sacred sites like St. George Church. Christian leaders and ecumenical forums have called for impartial international investigations and sustainable protection, highlighting a broader pattern of settler violence impacting Palestinians in the West Bank.
Wadephul's visit to Taibe was a show of solidarity, and he condemned every form of settler violence, continuing to push for sanctions against violent settlers on the European level. In Ramallah, discussions on the annexation of the West Bank, demanded by some Israeli politicians, are likely to be raised.
The federal government, as stated by Wadephul, considers settlement policy to be a violation of international law. The central demands of the federal government that Wadephul is conveying include a significant improvement in the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the dismantling of the Hamas regime there, and Germany's position on a "negotiated" two-state solution.
The meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah is yet to happen. Wadephul's visit to Taibe follows his discussions with Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanjahu, and President Isaac Herzog, where settler violence was a key topic. The U.S. Department of State has also announced sanctions against officials of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Thursday, citing their support for "terrorism" and incitement to violence.
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/germany-condemns-israeli-settler-violence-west-bank-2021-07-23 [4] https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210726-german-foreign-minister-condemns-israeli-settler-violence-against-palestinians/ [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/23/german-minister-condemns-israeli-settler-violence-in-palestinian-village [6] https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-07-23/german-minister-to-meet-abbas-in-ramallah-after-condemning-settler-violence-1.100299696
- The Commission, in light of recent events in Taibe, may find it necessary to consult on potential measures to protect workers from the psychological and physical risks associated with the escalating violence in war-and-conflicts situations, such as those in the West Bank.
- In the realm of general-news, the ongoing political tensions between Israeli authorities and Palestinian leaders, especially with regard to the annexation of the West Bank, now intersect with crime-and-justice issues, as the German Foreign Minister calls for stricter punishment for settlers involved in acts of violence and vandalism in areas like Taibe.
