The Church of England’s General Synod voted to formally hear a report titled Kairos Palestine II, which was co-written by Palestinian Anglican priest Father Fadi Diab and calls for urgent Christian response to the Gaza war and West Bank occupation. The document characterizes Israeli actions using terms including genocide, apartheid, and settler colonialism.
During the synod debate, Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally stated that hearing Palestinian Christians’ experiences meant listening with compassion and showing solidarity, though she clarified this did not constitute endorsement of every element of the report. The synod initially considered a motion to “receive” the document but amended it to “hear” it instead following discussion.
Jewish leaders and interfaith organizations expressed concern prior to the vote. The Board of Deputies of British Jews, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, and Progressive Judaism co-chairs argued the report extended beyond critiques of Israeli government policy and military operations to question core aspects of Jewish history and connection to the land. They contended the language contained antisemitic tropes and risked damaging Christian-Jewish relations. Rabbi Charley Baginsky stated that while Palestinian Christian voices deserved to be heard, the report’s framing closed down rather than opened dialogue.
Interfaith advocates sought middle ground. Georgina Bye of the Council of Christians and Jews welcomed the amended language and noted the debate included calls for more holistic examination of the issues. Richard Sewell, a senior figure in the Church’s Jerusalem operations, characterized the report as a plea for help from Palestinian Christians and argued the Church bore responsibility to directly engage with suffering communities in the region. Mullally described visiting Palestinian communities in the West Bank, noting settlement expansion and concerns about the survival of Christian villages.
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