Arson allegations in Christian-majority West Bank village

Israeli settlers have been accused of setting fire to a Christian-majority village in the West Bank.

It’s been reported that settlers started a fire near a cemetery and a fifth-century church in the village of Taybeh.

The vast majority of Taybeh’s residents are reportedly Christians – unlike most Palestinian towns and villages which are majority Muslim. Taybeh is identified by many scholars to be the Biblical city of Ephraim, where Jesus withdrew after raising Lazarus (John 11v54).

The fires have been widely reported on. However, in an opinion piece written shortly after the alleged arson, Zvika Kleinn of the Jerusalem Post wrote: “Blasting that settlers had torched Taybeh’s 1,500-year-old Church of St. George without waiting for an official investigation shows how the international media reports on Israel.”

In a video clip posted online, entitled “The Lie Exposed – What Really Happened in Taybeh,” archaeologist Eliana Passentin is seen allegedly walking the perimeter of the church, saying: “I don’t see any signs of a fire.” She can be heard questioning “how one burns down an ancient church made of stone.” She adds: “Even on the outer walls, there are no signs of fire.”

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited Taybeh to “see first-hand some of the things that have happened.” He said in a statement: “What we needed to hear were the specifics, exactly what has happened. And we were supplied with information that was very helpful, and it was not general, but it was very definite.”

“[What] has happened here is an absolute travesty, and it’s my desire to do everything possible to let the people of this peaceful village know that we will certainly insist that those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh – or anywhere – be found and be prosecuted,” Huckabee went on to say. “[Taybeh] is a Christian community, largely, and it’s one that deserves respect and deserves to be treated with dignity.”

Nida Ibrahim, journalist for Al Jazeera, said church leaders have been calling this a “systemic and targeted attack” against Christians.

According to Reuters, Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.