NEWS PROVIDED BY
The Vulnerable People Project
Nov. 13, 2026
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2026 /Standard Newswire/ — The Vulnerable People Project (VPP) is calling on President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to urgently review and reverse U.S. visa denials for Fr. Issa Thaljieh, the Greek Orthodox parish priest at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and the Rev. Munther Isaac, a Palestinian Lutheran pastor.
In a statement, Fr. Thaljieh said his experience during his interview at the U.S. Embassy led him to believe that his Palestinian nationality and identity were the primary reasons for the denial.
“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,” Fr. Thaljieh said. He added that the interviewer had confirmed there was nothing missing or unclear in his documents.
Fr. Thaljieh said he had received an official invitation from an American church and intended to visit for “ecclesiastical, spiritual, and humanitarian purposes.”
“I had hoped to share the reality of Christian life in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, and speak about the challenges facing our Christian community and the people we serve,” he said.
VPP president and founder Jason Jones is scheduled to speak this weekend at the Not in Christ’s Name conference, on a panel Fr. Thaljieh was meant to join.
“Fr. Issa and I were supposed to discuss why American audiences are kept from seeing the true face of Palestinian Christians in the Holy Land,” said Jones. “Now our government doing exactly what Israeli government tour guides have done with American visitors who are kept from coming into deeper contact with the suffering Church in the Holy Land. Our government is even taking it a step further – keeping a Palestinian Christian pastor from addressing the topic with Americans. Christians in America deserve to hear from him. President Trump and Secretary Rubio have to reverse this decision and let him come – if only for the sake of their own credibility with the American public.”
According to event organizers, Fr. Thaljieh had also been expected to join Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant leaders at the United Methodist Building near the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 16. The gathering will call for accountability for Israeli settler and military violence against Palestinian communities.
Isaac was also denied a U.S. visa to attend the Nov. 5–7 Church at the Crossroads conference in Atlanta in person.
VPP is urging the State Department to explain the basis for the denial to Fr. Thaljieh, promptly review his application, and investigate his alarming account of the visa interview that led to his denial. The organization is also calling on American bishops, pastors, and members of Congress to press for his admission in time for this weekend’s conference and Monday’s event.
The appeal follows VPP’s Nov. 12 call for the Trump administration to fulfill assurances of protection for the Christians of Taybeh, the last fully Christian town in the West Bank, after another reported settler attack on the community. Through its Save West Bank Christians campaign, VPP supports threatened communities and advocates for their right to remain in their homes.
“American Christians need to see the Holy Land beyond the windows of a tour bus arranged by Israel’s foreign ministry,” Jones said. “Fr. Issa was coming here to give them a firsthand account of life in Bethlehem. Now, even in the United States, our government is keeping American Christians from hearing him. Our bishops and pastors should join us in pressing the administration to let him come.”
Learn more and support VPP’s work at SaveWestBankChristians.com.
PRESS CONTACT
Stephen Herreid
Stephen@TheGreatCampaign.org | 603-262-0829
ABOUT THE VULNERABLE PEOPLE PROJECT
Founded by filmmaker, author and human rights advocate Jason Jones, the Vulnerable People Project protects vulnerable communities through humanitarian assistance, reporting and advocacy. VPP defends human dignity across religious and national boundaries.
SOURCE The Vulnerable People Project