Archbishop calls for Israel to end the occupation
JVL Introduction
Archbishop Sarah Mullally seems to be on a different trajectory compared with her predecessor Justin Welby who, for example, refused to meet with Bethlehem pastor Munther Isaac because he spoke alongside Corbyn (something for which he later apologised). Welby later visited Bethlehem, meeting Pastor Isaac and Christian families but did not issue a statement whereas Archbishop Mullally did so, jointly with Hosam Naoum, the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem
While somewhat perturbed that the new Archbishop retains a belief in the feasibility of a two state solution, a possibility completely destroyed by Israel since 1967 with the first settlements and annexation of East Jerusalem and accelerated with Knesset approval of even more saettlement expansion, the Crimson Line that will cut off the Jordan Valley (30% of the West Bank) and the approval to go ahead with the E1 development that removes any possibility of contiguity, she has called for Israel to end its occupation and at the next Church of England Synod meeting there will be a debate on whether to “change its investment policies in light of Israel’s actions in the Occupied Territories.” She was unequivocal about settler violence, forced displacement and more and noted that “Annexation is already taking place in all but name.”
In a sermon she gave to Palestinian Christians, she drew direct connections with biblical times stating that “In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is speaking to a community living in fear: his own people living in an occupied land and under foreign rule … I can only imagine how these words may sound to you today.”
This article was originally published by Arab News on Fri 26 Jun 2026. Read the original here.
Archbishop of Canterbury demands end to Israeli occupation during trip to Holy Land
- Sarah Mullally urges all Anglicans to pressure politicians to ‘take all necessary steps’ toward two-state solution
- Church of England to debate whether to change investment policies in light of Israel’s actions
Loading article text…
This is progress, albeit at a snail’s pace.
“Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small.” The mills of the CoE grind even slower. However the break from the CoE default position of her predecessors by the present Archbishop of Canterbury is excellent and encouraging. Let’s see if the putative debate on CoE investment policies takes place and results in the right result.
p.s. This is a repeat attempt at a post as for whatever reason I failed to receive the usual acknowledgement. My computer is prone to refusing to do as it is told. So sorry if the first post was received.
She has played it well. When elected, it was assumed she would follow the Zionist path but now in office, she has declared support for a withdrawal from the Occupied Territories. Very encouraging and brave given her position.