Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Armed Palestinians Attack Christian Holy Site in West Bank

Armed Palestinians Attack Christian Holy Site in West Bank

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A mob of armed Palestinians in the West Bank targeted and extensively damaged Jacob’s Well, a Christian holy site in Nablus (Shechem), on Sunday night, the Tazpit Press Service (TPS) reports. Christian tradition holds that the site of the well was purchased by the Biblical Patriarch Jacob and is referred to in the New Testament as the Well of Sychar.

According to TPS, Palestinians from the Balata refugee camp in Nablus arrived at the monastery compound where the well is located armed with firebombs and stones, causing widespread damage to the monastery in the compound where the well is located. While the monastery’s keeper, 80-year-old Father Ioustinos of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, was not injured in the riot, Christian sources told TPS that he was traumatized by it.

Islamic extremists hold that both Christians and Jews are heretics who need to be expelled or controlled through violence. Explaining how Sunday’s attack could occur, Elias Zarina, community manager of the Jerusalemite Initiative non-profit, told TPS: “Nablus is controlled by the Palestinian Authority, which fails to help the Christian community and stop the disturbing pattern of violence against them. We know of no arrests that are made in such cases, nor do we see the Authority placing any guards in those sensitive locations that they know are under regular attacks.”

Naim Khoury, the founder of the First Baptist Church in Bethlehem, told TPS that Sunday’s attack was not the first of its kind. “It’s not something special in particular; there are many instances like this everywhere these days, unfortunately, even in Jerusalem,” Khoury said.

“The whole situation is very unstable, and people are frustrated with the situation. People should pay attention and see what’s happening. We know very well that no Christian would abuse a mosque,” Khoury added.