The Church must stand with Christians and others in the Holy Land who endure attacks by Israeli settlers, an Irish bishop has said.

In a message for Holy Week, Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, chair of the Council for Migrants, Refugees and Justice & Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said “[w]e have a duty to stand in solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land as they endure violence and potential displacement due to illegal Israeli settlements”. Attacks by extremist settlers in the West Bank have been increasing.

He said the US-Israeli war on Iran has meant the suffering of the West Bank “has not received the attention it deserves”.

“There, people – including Christians – continue to endure violence and attempts by Israeli settlers to drive them off their lands”.

This includes Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank, where the people have been targeted with violence, the seizure of land, and  attacks on property, farms and businesses.