Israel-Gaza Conflict – UK faith leaders condemn antisemitism and call for solidarity between faith communities
Gafcon IoW joins faith leaders in condemning the horrific attacks on 7th October 2023 when Hamas launched a military operation on Israel including rocket attacks, balaclava-clad fighters dropping from paragliders, and ground assaults on civilians in their homes, in kibbutz, on urban streets and at a music festival. Some 1400 died and over 200 were taken hostage. It coincided with the 50th anniversary of the 1973 war launched by Egypt and Syria against Israel.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was joined by Muslim and Jewish leaders at Lambeth Palace this morning to condemn the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents over the past 10 days, and to call for unity between British faith communities against the backdrop of war between Israel and Hamas.
Archbishop Justin Welby, Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg stood together outside Lambeth Palace and delivered statements calling for solidarity and unity between communities in the UK, and rejecting any form of hatred or discrimination.
Sheikh Ibrahim Mogra is a scholar and imam from Leicester, and a former Assistant Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain. Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg is the Senior Rabbi of Masorti Judaism UK, and Rabbi of the New North London Synagogue.
Archbishop Justin Welby thanks the faith leaders “Thank you both for this important sign of friendship and solidarity. I want to echo what you’ve both said about the importance of maintaining our relationships, even in this time of deep crisis. We cannot allow the seeds of hatred and prejudice to be sown afresh in our communities. And at this time especially, we cannot allow the cancer of antisemitism to spread in our nation. I pray that we remain united against all forms of discrimination, and for our Jewish neighbours and all our communities to know that they are an essential part of our country.
I add my own prayers to yours for the welfare of all our communities. And I offer my prayers, as the whole of the Anglican world is doing today, for all the people of the Holy Land.”
