Document
Vice president of the United States
James David Vance through
Mrs Tressa Rae Finerty
Deputy Permanent Representative and Chargée d'affaires a.i.
Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Your Excellency,
I write to you on behalf of the World Council of Churches with 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. The Mayor of Beit Sahour, Mr Elias Iseed, has addressed an urgent appeal to global and church leaders regarding the establishment of a new Israeli settlement on lands belonging to the town, an issue that carries significant humanitarian, social, and geopolitical consequences.
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. 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. The construction of a settlement at this site amounts to an act of dispossession and would effectively sever Beit Sahour from its eastern boundary, profoundly disrupting community cohesion and daily life.
Beyond the immediate geographical impact, this development raises serious protection concerns. The West Bank has experienced a documented escalation in settler violence, including assaults, intimidation, and the destruction of property. UN OCHA reports 757 settler attacks since January 2025, a 13% increase over the previous year. The mayor rightly warns that such harassment would ultimately force residents—many of whom are members of one of the region’s oldest Christian communities—to migrate.
The planned settlement also contradicts the long-standing international consensus regarding the status of occupied territory and undermines prospects for a just peace. 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.
Your Excellencies, given your leadership roles and your countries' influence with the parties involved, we respectfully urge you to:
- Intervene to ensure the immediate halt of the construction of the new settlement/outpost in Osh Ghurab.
- Uphold international law and existing commitments related to settlements and the protection of civilians in occupied territory.
- 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. We ask for your immediate attention to this urgent matter and your active engagement to prevent further deterioration on the ground.
Please accept, Excellencies, the assurances of my highest consideration.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches