The Green Party’s recent motion fails to do justice to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza, just as it fails to acknowledge the historical foundations of Zionism as Jewish communities rebuilt their lives with hope following the Holocaust. We should be able to speak honestly about the reality of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but describing Zionism as racism rewrites the past, weakens the cause of racial justice, and slips inevitably into antisemitic rhetoric.
I fully support and share the sentiments expressed by Bishop Lusa, the Lead bishop for interfaith, Church of England, who says,
We should be able to name occupation, dispossession, antisemitism and Palestinian suffering without resorting to collective blame. And we should be able to disagree profoundly while remaining committed to one another’s humanity.
His full statement can be found here
I do share the pain experienced by our Jewish friends as conveyed by the leaders of the Progressive Judaism here
Honouring the need to speak truthfully, I pray that we may nurture peace in our communities through compassion, solidarity, and friendship rather than reproach.
