Jewish Leadership Council also speaks out to voice concern over ‘extreme rhetoric’ used by second-most senior figure in the Church of England
November 18, 2025 22:37
The Archbishop of York has said Israeli forces have committed “genocidal acts” in Gaza in remarks the Chief Rabbi has condemned as an “incendiary and morally inverted accusation”.
The second-most senior figure in the Church of England suggested the IDF were responsible for “deliberately indiscriminate acts”, in comments reported in the Church Times.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has said he will write to the Archbishop about his “concerns” over the cleric’s “irresponsible approach”.
The Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) has said they are “deeply disappointed” over the “perverse distortion” of the conflict and “the failure to understand the devastating impact” such remarks may have on Britain’s Jewish community.
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell said: “When hospitals and schools are targeted, when children are targeted . . . I wonder what other language we use to describe what is happening.
He claimed: “What is happening is deliberate and systematic, persistent and intentional, and its impact is devastating.”
Defending himself against anticipated criticism, Archbishop Cottrell said: “I want to be very clear that these are the policies of the Israeli state. This is not about Judaism. It’s not about Jewish people. It’s about the state’s actions and policies which the international community must challenge.”
The Archbishop went to the West Bank and east Jerusalem when he travelled to Israel earlier this month. Looking back to his visit, he said: “What’s happening in the West Bank is not what happened in South Africa, but you’re left thinking: what other language do I use to describe such a two-tier system where one group of people is so persistently and systematically denied their human rights and having to live a parallel life?”
He also voiced support for divestment from Israel, saying he would support a vote for it in the Synod.
The Chief Rabbi responded in a post on X, saying: “The Archbishop of York has spoken of the need to be ‘painfully honest’ about the conflict in Israel and Gaza. But it is simply not possible to do that without faithfully seeking to understand more than one perspective.
“It saddens me greatly that his irresponsible approach, reaching for the incendiary and morally inverted accusation of ‘genocidal acts’, will serve only to foster yet more enmity and division.
“I will be writing to the Archbishop to set out my concerns in detail.”
The JLC said in a statement: “We are deeply disappointed by the the Archbishop of York's choice of language. In particular, his accusation of ‘genocidal acts’ is not only a factual error, but a perverse distortion of a conflict initiated by a terrorist group which seeks the destruction of the Jewish state through indiscriminate murder.
“At a time of growing division in the UK, as politicians and activists compete to use the most extreme rhetoric on events in the Middle East, the Archbishop's words demonstrate a failure to understand the devastating impact this behaviour has on the Jewish community here.
“Over the past two years, we have seen how antisemites have become emboldened to attack Jews in the UK using the backdrop of foreign affairs as an excuse.
“Instead of acting in the best interests of peace and compassion, the Archbishop has chosen to present a loaded and incorrect narrative.”
Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, Co-Leads of Progressive Judaism, also responded to the comments by the Archbishop.
They said: “In the UK, statements about Israel-Palestine have real consequences for communities of faith, where Palestinian suffering and rising antisemitism are deeply felt.
“Moral clarity must always be paired with social responsibility. The language used inflames tensions and shuts down dialogue instead of promoting justice and understanding.”
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