The General Synod of the Church of England has committed itself to engaging seriously with major statements and appeals by Palestinian Christians, including Kairos Palestine II, a document I co-authored. It also called for a review of Church investments in light of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and urged renewed efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis.

The motion was adopted by an overwhelming majority of the Synod’s bishops, clergy and laity. It signals an important shift in the Church of England’s engagement with Palestinian Christian voices and, more broadly, in the language the Church is willing to consider when addressing the realities of the Holy Land. Viewed alongside a number of the Church’s public statements, especially at the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, the vote represents a significant step forward in its pursuit of truth, justice and peace.

Unsurprisingly, the decision was strongly criticised by several pro-Israel organisations and leaders in the United Kingdom and beyond, most notably the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Much of the criticism followed familiar lines, accusing the Church of enabling anti-Semitism or damaging Christian-Jewish relations because of its willingness to engage with documents that speak about Israeli policies in stark terms.

Such tactics have become increasingly unconvincing. They ignore the growing diversity of opinion – including among Jewish communities – about what is taking place in Gaza. They also risk undermining genuine efforts to confront anti-Semitism in Britain and Europe by confusing hostility towards Jewish people with legitimate criticism of a state and its policies.

What is even more disturbing is that the Board’s response appears to express greater outrage over the Church of England’s decision to listen to Palestinian Christians than over the catastrophic suffering unfolding in Gaza.........

© Al Jazeera