Question 1

Who is Alice Kisiya?

Accepted Answer

Alice Kisiya is a Palestinian Christian woman whose family has farmed the terraces of Al-Makhrour, near Bethlehem, for generations. When a JNF-linked land claim and subsequent demolition orders threatened to displace her family, she chose to stay and fight — legally and nonviolently. She has become an internationally recognized voice for Palestinian Christian land rights.

Question 2

What is Al-Makhrour?

Accepted Answer

Al-Makhrour (Wadi Al-Makhrour) is a valley in the Beit Jala area of the Bethlehem Governorate in the occupied West Bank. It has been farmed continuously for more than a thousand years and sits within the UNESCO World Heritage-inscribed 'Land of Olives and Vines' (the Battir terraces). Locals call it the 'heaven of Bethlehem.' It is one of the last places near Bethlehem where a Palestinian Christian family still farms their ancestral land.

Question 3

What happened to Alice's family?

Accepted Answer

In 2019, Israeli authorities demolished the family's restaurant and part of their home in Al-Makhrour. A JNF-linked claim had attempted to reclassify the land as state or absentee property. Alice and her family contested the claim, erected solidarity tents on the land to demonstrate continued presence, located Ottoman-era and British Mandate land registration documents, and fought the case in court. In 2025, the court ruled in their favor.

Question 4

Are Palestinian Christians being persecuted in the Holy Land?

Accepted Answer

Palestinian Christians are one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, yet their numbers near Bethlehem have fallen sharply over the past century. Church bodies such as the World Council of Churches, along with human rights organizations and news outlets including France 24, Middle East Eye and the National Catholic Reporter, have documented the pressures Palestinian Christian families face — including land confiscation, demolition orders, restrictions on movement and building, and settler violence in the West Bank. Al-Makhrour is one of the most concrete examples: a Christian family fighting to remain on their documented, ancestral land.

Question 5

Why are Christians leaving Bethlehem?

Accepted Answer

The Christian share of Bethlehem's population has declined dramatically since the mid-20th century. Reporting and research point to a combination of pressures — loss of land and livelihood, restrictions on movement, the economic toll of the occupation, demolition and displacement, and a lack of security. Each family that is able to stay on its land, like the Kisiyas in Al-Makhrour, helps preserve the living Christian presence in the place where the faith began.

Question 6

What is the 'last Christian valley of Bethlehem'?

Accepted Answer

Al-Makhrour is often described as the last Christian agricultural valley of Bethlehem because it is among the final stretches of farmland near the city still owned and worked by a Palestinian Christian family. Its terraced groves of olives, figs and vines are part of the same UNESCO-listed landscape as nearby Battir. Keeping this valley in the family's hands is about more than one farm — it is about whether a centuries-old Christian agricultural heritage survives at all.

Question 7

Has Alice won her case?

Accepted Answer

The court ruled in Alice's favor in 2025 — affirming her family's ownership of the Al-Makhrour land. This is a landmark ruling. However, the fight is not over: the terraces still need replanting, the legal team needs to defend against any potential appeal, and the broader pressure on Palestinian Christians in the Bethlehem area continues. The victory must be consolidated and sustained.

Question 8

Where does my donation go?

Accepted Answer

Gifts to the Save Al-Makhrour campaign go to three main areas: (1) the legal defense fund — covering court filings, attorney fees, and related legal costs; (2) land restoration — replanting the olive terraces and rebuilding what was destroyed; and (3) campaign operations — keeping the story visible and Alice's voice amplified. For specific questions about fund allocation, contact us.

Question 9

Is my donation tax-deductible?

Accepted Answer

Tax deductibility depends on your jurisdiction and the specific giving vehicle. The campaign works with fiscal sponsors and partner organizations in several countries. Check with your local tax advisor or contact us to find out what applies in your region.

Question 10

How can my church get involved?

Accepted Answer

There are three main ways: Pray (download the prayer liturgy and lead your congregation in solidarity), Host (invite Alice to speak at your church or a denominational event), and Partner (make a formal commitment to give, mobilize, and advocate as a congregation). Visit the For Churches page for resources and to submit an inquiry.

Question 11

Is Alice available to speak at our church?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Alice speaks regularly at churches, denominational gatherings, and interfaith events. She speaks about faith, rootedness, nonviolent resistance, and what it means to be a living stone in the land where Jesus walked. Use the church partnership form to inquire about availability.

Question 12

Why does this matter to the global church?

Accepted Answer

Palestinian Christians are among the oldest Christian communities in the world — living witnesses to the continuity of the faith in the land of the Gospels. As that community faces demographic and territorial pressure, Al-Makhrour represents one of the most tangible fronts: a family fighting to remain on their land, asking the global church to stand with them. How the church responds is itself a theological statement.

Question 13

How can I follow the campaign?

Accepted Answer

Sign up for campaign updates using the newsletter form in the footer, follow the Updates page for the latest news from the legal fight and the land, and share the coverage with your network. Every share and subscriber helps keep the story visible — and visibility is one of the most important protections Alice has.

Question 14

What is the historical significance of Al-Makhrour to Palestinian communities?

Accepted Answer

Al-Makhrour is a lush wadi with a history of Palestinian agriculture, culture, and community life stretching back over a thousand years. It embodies the deep-rooted relationship between Palestinian communities and their land, serving as a vital part of their heritage, identity, and survival.

Question 15

What challenges are Palestinian communities in Al-Makhrour facing?

Accepted Answer

Communities in Al-Makhrour face numerous threats, including land seizures, harassment by settlers, and restricted access to their farmland. The encroaching settlements of Har Gilo and Nahal Heletz, among others, threaten the livelihoods and ancestral lands of these communities, making daily life increasingly precarious.

Question 16

How are these communities resisting displacement?

Accepted Answer

Palestinians in Al-Makhrour are employing multiple forms of resistance, from legal actions to preserve land ownership to collective farming, local advocacy, and international awareness campaigns. They work together to maintain their presence, cultivate the land, and foster community resilience despite constant pressures.

Question 17

Why are Israeli settlers targeting Al-Makhrour?

Accepted Answer

Al-Makhrour's agricultural fertility and its strategic location make it a focal point for settler expansion. Israeli settlers and authorities often target such areas to expand settlement boundaries, aiming to annex more land and restrict Palestinian access to resources and movement.

Question 18

What can international supporters do to help?

Accepted Answer

Supporters can contribute by raising awareness, advocating for Palestinian rights, supporting legal defense funds, or engaging with organizations working on the ground. Sharing information, donating to relevant causes, and lobbying governments to protect Palestinian rights are vital ways to assist.

Question 19

How does the struggle in Al-Makhrour reflect broader issues facing Palestinians?

Accepted Answer

The situation in Al-Makhrour mirrors the broader context of Palestinian land dispossession, displacement, and resistance under Israeli policies. This struggle is part of a larger narrative of colonial pressures faced by Palestinians, making local efforts here representative of national resistance to displacement and erasure.

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