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Chief Rabbi blames Iran for Israel- Gaza conflict, live on BBC radio

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Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks has told BBC listeners that the blame for the Gaza conflict should be placed on Iran.

The chief rabbi had given the Thought For The Day, the daily religious item on the Today programme on Radio 4, when he was asked what he thought of the current Israel- Gaza conflict. Lord Sacks said: "I think it's got to do with Iran."

However, the chief rabbi did not seem to know that he was live on air.

When presenter Evan Davis alerted the chief rabbi, Lord Sacks quickly said: "A continued prayer for peace is needed, not only in Gaza, but the whole region.

“No one gains from violence, not the Palestinians, not the Israelis.”

The BBC has now issued an apology for not informing him he was on air.

"The Chief Rabbi hadn’t realised he was still on-air and as soon as this became apparent, we interjected," a spokesman said. "Evan likes to be spontaneous with guests but he accepts that in this case it was inappropriate and he has apologised to Lord Sacks. The BBC would reiterate that apology."

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