The Church of England’s General Synod voted to formally hear a report titled Kairos Palestine II (A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide), which was co-written by Palestinian Anglican priest Father Fadi Diab and other Palestinian Christian leaders. The document characterizes Israeli actions using terms including genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism, and calls for an urgent global Christian response to the war in Gaza and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank. Synod members voted to “hear” the report rather than to “receive” it, a distinction made during debate.
Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally acknowledged that hearing Palestinian Christians’ experiences did not constitute endorsement of every element in the report, but rather reflected listening with compassion and standing in solidarity. She noted that she had recently visited Palestinian Christian communities and observed settlements expanding at unprecedented rates. For many Palestinians in the Anglican community, the vote represented recognition of their voices and experiences within the church.
Jewish leaders and interfaith organizations raised objections prior to and during the debate. The Board of Deputies of British Jews urged the synod to reject the document, arguing it “directly undermines the struggle against antisemitism.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and Progressive Judaism co-chairs warned that the report risked damaging decades of Christian-Jewish dialogue. They contended that the document extended beyond criticism of Israeli government policy to question core elements of Jewish history and Jewish connection to the land.
Rabbi Charley Baginsky of Progressive Judaism acknowledged the church’s responsibility to engage with Palestinian Christian experiences while expressing concern that the report employed language containing “entrenchment of antisemitic tropes” and closed down constructive dialogue. Georgina Bye of the Council of Christians and Jews welcomed the change from “receive” to “hear” and noted that understanding complex Middle Eastern issues required exposure to multiple perspectives and narratives. Richard Sewell, a church official linked to the Anglican community in Palestine, described the report as a plea for help from suffering Christians in the region and affirmed the church’s duty to directly engage with their voices.
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