Archbishop of York gives speech on justice, peace in Palestine and Israel

[Office of the Archbishop of York] Reflecting on his recent visit to the region, the Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell delivered a speech at Lambeth Palace during a Nov. 18 gathering of ecumenical church leaders and Christian agencies.

A potion of the speech, with a link to it in its entirety, follows.

Sisters and brothers, it is a great honor and a privilege to be with you and to share these thoughts this morning from a visit that was both horrifying, harrowing but actually deeply beautiful as well. When Hamas attacked Israel, killing people and taking hostages, the whole world was outraged. This was a barbaric and hideous attack on innocent life.

Those of us who for many years have had huge sympathy and support for the plight of Palestinians and the terrible privations and injustices they have experienced cannot and will not condone such barbarism, and our hearts go out to those who suffered. We acknowledge the fear and trauma this brings to Jewish people in Israel and across the world, and we deplore the rise in antisemitism that has followed from it.

We also know that one horror cannot be undone by another. What is happening to Palestinians, Muslim and Christian, in the occupied Palestinian territory, including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, is also barbaric and horrific and completely unacceptable by any humane reading of what has happened. Too much innocent blood has been spilled, and for no apparent purpose except growing fear, growing isolation and mounting tension and despair.

Although I am sure all of us are relieved that there is some sort of ceasefire in Gaza, it is still a very long way from the peace that is needed, one that can only be made when there is justice for all people in Israel and Palestine. Jeremiah rightly warns that we should be wary of saying “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” (see Jeremiah 6:14)

Read the entire speech here.