WCC NEWS: WCC urges US, EU Commission to engage in safeguarding Palestinians

In letters to US vice president J.D. Vance and to Ursula Von Der Leyen, president of the European Commission, World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed deep concern regarding recent developments in the Palestinian town of Beit Sahour, a predominantly Christian community located near Bethlehem and known worldwide as the biblical Shepherds’ Field.  17 April 2019, Tulkarem, West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territories: A female shepherd tends to her flock in the valley of Yanoun. The village of Yanoun sits on a hillside in the Nablus Governorate of the West Bank. There is only one road into the village, which is otherwise surrounded on all sides by Israeli settlements. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 19 December 2025 “According to information shared with us and corroborated by independent human rights monitors, Israeli authorities and settlers have moved to establish an outpost on the area of Osh Ghurab, a public recreational space long used by Beit Sahour’s 15,000 residents,” wrote Pillay. “This area—falling under Area C and overlooked by an Israeli military post—serves as the principal public space for children, families, and community life.” Pillay notes in the letters that the construction of a settlement at this site amounts to an act of dispossession and would effectively sever Beit Sahour from its eastern boundary.  “Beyond the immediate geographical impact, this development raises serious protection concerns,” reads the text. “The West Bank has experienced a documented escalation in settler violence, including assaults, intimidation, and the destruction of property.” The planned settlement also contradicts the longstanding international consensus regarding the status of occupied territory and undermines prospects for a just peace, Pillay wrote. “As one of the world’s largest ecumenical bodies, representing churches in over 120 countries, the WCC is deeply troubled that this development threatens the presence and continuity of a historic Christian community and creates new obstacles to peace, justice, and stability in the Holy Land,” reads the text.  Pillay urges Vance and Von Der Leyen to intervene to ensure the immediate halt of the construction of the new settlement in Osh Ghurab; uphold international law and existing commitments related to settlements and the protection of civilians in occupied territory; and support efforts that safeguard the living conditions, dignity, and future of Christian and Muslim Palestinians in Beit Sahour and the wider Bethlehem area. “The WCC remains committed to working with all global partners—political, diplomatic, and faith-based—to secure a future in which the communities of the Holy Land may live in peace, dignity, and equal rights,” concludes the text. “We ask for your immediate attention to this urgent matter and your active engagement to prevent further deterioration on the ground.” WCC General Secretary letter to Ursula Von Der Leyen President of the European Commission WCC General Secretary letter to Vice president of the United States James David Vance See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland