Several Christian leaders across the UK have signed a letter condemning the Archbishop of Canterbury’s approval of the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is “illegal”.
The letter is titled: If Jesus promised Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem, who are we to divide His land?
It lambasts the ICJ’s ruling as “unbiblical”, saying: “We will see how the ICJ’s opinion is biased, uninformed, naïve, and ultimately unbiblical. Yet in his statement, Archbishop Justin insists that governments worldwide ‘reaffirm their unwavering commitment to all decisions by the International Court of Justice, irrespective of the situation’.
“For a Christian leader to express such unbounded confidence in the opinions of secular powers is shocking, ignoring biblical truth that the world is under the influence of the Father of Lies (1 John 5:19) who stirs up its rulers against the decrees of God (Psalm 2).
“Proper submission to our national governments with tax and with honour (Romans 13:1-7) does not require us to treat all current international legal opinions as infallible and fair. Even if judges were agreed, and they aren’t, unanimity does not guarantee justice (e.g., Acts 4:27).
“We must realise that spiritual forces are determined to derail Jesus’ promised return to a Jerusalem no longer ruled by foreign nations (Luke 21:24), in which his regathered Jewish people will be ready to welcome their Jewish Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39; Acts 1:6-8). His coming will bring judgement upon all nations who ‘have divided up My land’ (Joel 3:2), and while ‘all the nations will be gathered against Jerusalem’, any who try to move this “heavy stone” will be ‘severely injured’ (Zechariah 12:3; 14:1-5). We pray that our British nation and our church leaders turn away from this path. Let us instead join with many of our Arab and Palestinian brothers and sisters who celebrate God’s faithful replanting of his Jewish people back in the land “with all my heart and with all my soul” (Jeremiah 32:36-41; 12:14-17).”
Archbishop Justin released a statement saying: "Having visited our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters many times over recent decades, it is clear to me that the regime imposed by successive Israeli governments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is one of systemic discrimination. Through annexing Palestinian land for illegal settlements, depriving Palestinians access to their own natural resources, and imposing a system of military rule that denies them safety and justice, the State of Israel has been denying the Palestinian people dignity, freedom and hope.
"I am particularly aware of how this is impacting Palestinian Christians, threatening their future and viability. It is clear that ending the occupation is a legal and moral necessity."
The Archbishop’s team said that whilst they will not provide further comment, they do not believe the letter to be reflective of all Christian leaders.
The leaders' letter was signed by:
Michael Treharne, Bridges For Peace
Tim & Hayley Gutmann, Christian Action Against Antisemitism
Jane Moxon and Rufus Barnes, Church’s Ministry among Jewish people (CMJ)
Brenda Taylor, Dovetail Shalom
Alison Eastwood and Nick Coates, Ebenezer Operation Exodus
Sister Glory, Evangelical Sisters of Mary
Mark Baker, Focus on Israel
Stephen Briggs and Roy Thurley, Hatikvah Films
David Elms and Len Grates, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ)
Kath Charles and Nicky Butler, Lydia Fellowship
Mike & Lynn McNally, March Of Life
Brian Greenaway, Maoz
Anne Heelis, Nachamu Ami
Capt. Paul Smith, Prayer For Israel
David Tidy and Meriel Forshaw, Prayer Warriors International
Rosie Ross, Repairing the Breach
Simon Barrett, Revelation TV
Steve Maltz, Saltshakers
James David Andrew, Sword Magazine (.net)
Richard Bush, Teach All Nations: Europe
Dom McDermott and James Patrick, Towards Jerusalem Council II
Danny Stupple, Zion Projects