Church of England ‘hears’ Palestinians’ call and condemns anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hostility

The General Synod of the Church of England adopted a motion on July 13 calling for the voices of Palestinian Christians to be “heard” and engaged in dialogue. The latter denounce, in the Kairos II document, a situation marked by genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement.

During the debates, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally, declared that “Palestine is disappearing”. She called for a “new and active solidarity” with all the peoples of the Holy Land, recalling that Palestinians like Israelis have the right to live free from war, terrorism, occupation and oppression.

“When I say that the Palestinian people deserve their freedom, it is not a political position, but a moral and spiritual one,” she said. She also insisted on the need to respect international humanitarian law in Israel and Palestine. The motion also expresses the Church’s repentance for its historical contribution to anti-Semitism and the current situation of the Palestinian people. The Synod reaffirmed its rejection of anti-Semitism and hostility towards Muslims, as acts targeting Jewish and Muslim communities have reached record levels in the UK in recent years.

Several religious leaders finally called on the Church to play a role in rebuilding dialogue and unity, in a climate marked by fear, community tensions and the rise of speeches hostile to immigration.

This position marks an important development in the discourse of the Church of England. By choosing to “hear” the words of the Palestinians, while reaffirming its rejection of anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hostility, it attempts to maintain a line of balance. The debate around the word “hear”, preferred to “receive”, however, shows the strong tensions which still surround any public recognition of Palestinian suffering. Despite these precautions, the message remains clear: defending the freedom and dignity of the Palestinian people is, according to the Archbishop of Canterbury, a moral and spiritual requirement.