The Palestinian village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank is facing growing pressure from Israeli settlement expansion, with restrictions on access to land and repeated settler attacks threatening the community, according to Palestinian analyst and landowner Xavier Abu Eid.
The Israeli army has declared Taybeh a “closed military zone” and restricted access to non-residents, a policy that authorities say is aimed at curbing settler attacks. Abu Eid said the restrictions have also prevented many landowners from reaching their agricultural land, Al Jazeera reported.
Abu Eid described Taybeh as strategically important because of its agricultural land and its location, which allows several surrounding areas, including Jerusalem, to be monitored.
The village is also known for its religious significance. According to local tradition, Taybeh was the last place Jesus Christ stayed before entering Jerusalem.
Located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Jordan, Taybeh also occupies a strategically important position near the Jordan Valley.
But Abu Eid said the village is increasingly threatened by Israeli settler expansion, accusing Israel of seeking to expand control toward the Jordan Valley through the area.
He recounted several incidents involving settlers, including an attack in which he said he was nearly pushed off a cliff. In another incident, he said settlers threw stones at his car while he was driving.
Abu Eid accused settlers of acting as part of Israeli state policy and said the military enables their activities.
“For settlers to come to Taybeh, it’s very visual – you can actually see them coming in,” he said.
He also pointed to a nearby Israeli military watchtower, arguing that its presence showed coordination between settlers and Israeli soldiers.
“So clearly here there is co-ordination between settlers and Israeli soldiers not just for the sake of the impunity they receive but also for allowing them to attack whenever they want,” Abu Eid said.
The allegations reflect wider tensions over Israeli settlements, land access and settler violence in the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians have continued to raise concerns about restrictions affecting their communities and agricultural land.