Bethlehem Priest Denied US Visa for Planned Protest Against Settler Violence

Father Issa Thaljieh, the Greek Orthodox parish priest at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, was denied a US visa on November 15. The refusal was attributed to unspecified national security concerns, preventing him from attending a significant religious and political event in Maryland.

Thaljieh was scheduled to speak at the Not in Christ’s Name conference in Potomac on Saturday. He was also set to participate in a joint protest organized by Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant groups. The demonstration, planned for November 16 near the United Methodist Building by the US Capitol, was intended to highlight Israeli settler violence.

The invitation was extended by The Vulnerable People Project, a Catholic non-profit organization founded in August 2021 by Jason Jones. The group stated that Thaljieh and Rev. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor, were invited to discuss how the challenges faced by Palestinian Christians remain hidden from many American audiences.

In a public statement, Thaljieh expressed his belief that his Palestinian identity was the primary factor in the decision. He noted that during his interview at the US Embassy, interviewers placed significant emphasis on his nationality. “Throughout the interview, considerable emphasis was placed on the fact that I am Palestinian, and I felt that this was the main factor behind the decision to deny my visa,” he said.

The priest had hoped to share the daily realities of Christian life in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. He intended to speak about the specific challenges facing his community and the people they serve. Jason Jones, the president of The Vulnerable People Project, who is attending the conference, said he and Thaljieh planned to discuss why American audiences often do not see the true face of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land.

Jones argued that Christians in America deserve to hear directly from Thaljieh. He called on President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to reverse the decision, suggesting that allowing the priest to enter would enhance the administration's credibility with the American public.

The situation involves another Palestinian clergyman, Rev. Munther Isaac. While The Vulnerable People Project initially reported that Isaac was also denied a visa, the pastor later clarified the details on social media. He stated that he did not apply for a US visa for the Church at the Crossroads conference in Atlanta because he was aware of the current restrictions.

Isaac explained that friends who had applied told him none had received visas. He noted that these restrictions make it difficult for Palestinian Christians to maintain connections with the wider church and to meet with American partners who support their work. He clarified that he had not been personally banned but had chosen not to apply given the prevailing environment.

A State Department spokesman told The Jerusalem Post that the Trump administration continues to prioritize American interests by fully enforcing immigration laws. The spokesperson stated that embassies and consulates are thoroughly vetting each case and only issuing visas when applicants credibly demonstrate they meet all legal requirements. The official emphasized that every visa decision is ultimately a national security decision.

These denials occur against the backdrop of broader US restrictions on holders of Palestinian Authority passports. Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, which took effect on January 1, 2026, the administration suspended the issuance of both immigrant and non-immigrant visas to individuals traveling on these documents. While limited exceptions exist for cases serving the US national interest, religious leaders are not explicitly exempt. It remains unclear whether Thaljieh’s application was rejected under this blanket rule or through an individual assessment, and the State Department has not specified the exact grounds for the refusal.