0
View of Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian town located northeast of Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. / AFP-Yonhap

Israel has designated Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian town in the West Bank, as a no-entry zone for non-residents, Reuters reported on the 9th (local time).

The measure is aimed at preventing attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers, which have been increasing across the West Bank; it applies only to Israelis and does not restrict Palestinians.

An Israeli military spokesperson said that if violations are reported, troops will be deployed to disperse gatherings and arrest suspects in order to protect residents and maintain order.

Taybeh is one of the few remaining Christian towns in the West Bank, visited last year by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and a Roman Catholic cardinal. It is also home to the Taybeh Brewing Company, one of the oldest small breweries in the Middle East.

Some Western countries have imposed sanctions on Israeli settler groups over violent attacks against Palestinians. In June, settlers reportedly obstructed efforts to contain a major fire near Taybeh, prompting a local priest to describe it as part of a sustained pattern of threats and unjust violence.

A UN commission of inquiry stated in a recent report that Israeli authorities were directly involved in settler attacks, which have resulted in Palestinian deaths, injuries, and forced displacement.

However, Israel's mission in Geneva denied this, countering that Israeli leadership — including the president and prime minister — has repeatedly and publicly condemned violence against Palestinians.

Parts of Taybeh fall under Area B, where the Palestinian Authority handles civil administration, but security matters must be coordinated with Israeli authorities. Around 50,000 Palestinian Christians currently live in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

The blockade has drawn international attention given its direct implications for the religious identity and survival of the Palestinian Christian community.

The Taybeh Brewing Company plays an important role in local tourism and the economy, and restricted outside access due to the blockade could result in economic losses.

There is also concern that the measure could deepen resentment among Palestinian residents and further escalate tensions between Israel and Palestinians.

                                                                                                           Park Jin-sook