Taybeh: The Israeli occupation's decision to close Taybeh further restricts inhabitants, harms their interests, and fails to protect them against colonists' attacks, according to the village mayor Suleiman Khouria.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the mayor warned of the repercussions of the occupation authorities' decision to declare the Christian village a 'closed military zone.' Khouria mentioned that the municipality has not yet received any official notification or details regarding its implementation mechanism but learned of it through the media. The decision bars non-residents from entering the village or its surroundings.
Earlier today, Israeli occupation forces declared the village a 'closed military zone' to prevent rising attacks by colonists. Under the decision, Israelis and foreigners are prohibited from entering the area.
Khouria explained that the decision would harm the villagers and their livelihoods as the village is a tourist destination with hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that rely on visitors and tourists. 'Some residents make their living from tourism, making restrictions on foreign entry a direct blow to economic activity and income sources,' Khouria added.
Questioning the rationale behind Israel's decision if its declared goal is to protect Taybeh inhabitants from colonist attacks, Khouria said: 'Israeli colonists continue to attack, vandalize, and graze on the village's lands,' stressing that protecting the villagers should be ensured by halting colonist attacks and holding the perpetrators accountable, rather than imposing further restrictions on the village.
He described the decision as 'an attempt to further tighten the noose on villagers rather than a measure to protect them.' He stressed, however, that he could not determine the motives behind the Israeli decision because the municipality had not received an official copy of it.
Taybeh is one of the most prominent Palestinian villages with a Christian majority and is renowned for its religious, historical, and tourist significance. It is home to several archaeological sites and historic churches, including the Byzantine-era St. George Church, while tourism constitutes an important source of income for its residents.
According to statistics issued by the Colonisation and Wall Resistance Commission, Israeli colonists committed 3,488 attacks against Palestinians and their property during the first half of 2026, including attacks on residents, torching homes and vehicles, uprooting trees, land leveling, and denying farmers access to their lands.