Mick Hartley

The Archbishop of York joins the chorus. From the JC:

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.

He’s been watching the BBC.

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.

Well, you might consider listening to the other side for once.

The JLC [Jewish Leadership Council] 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.”