Church leaders have raised concerns over the Green Party's decision to adopt a motion defining Zionism as racism, saying it could increase feelings of vulnerability among Jewish communities.
Zionism is generally understood as the political movement supporting the establishment and continued existence of a Jewish state in the Middle East. The Green Party's new policy defines it as an "ethnonationalist political project" and supports a single democratic state across historic Palestine.
The Bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, said she was "deeply concerned" by the decision and its potential impact on Jewish communities.
In a statement, she said: "At a time of heightened antisemitism and profound anxiety for British Jews, this will leave many feeling further isolated and unwelcome in our public life."
She added that political parties had a responsibility to ensure Jewish people could participate "fully and without fear of discrimination".
"I stand alongside Jewish communities who will be deeply hurt by this decision," she said.
A separate statement from a group of Church of England Diocesan Inter Faith Advisers said they were "compelled to express our concern" about the Green Party vote and what they described as "antizionist rhetoric".
The advisers said the motion did not define what was meant by the term Zionism and argued that this was particularly concerning for Jewish communities.
They added that the decision risked "further eroding the trust" built between Jewish communities, the Church of England and wider society.
The advisers also pointed to what they described as a wider pattern in public life, including the dismissal or minimisation of the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, the use of the term "genocide", debates within the Church of England and concerns about pro-Palestinian demonstrations held near synagogues.
The statement, which has the backing of the bishop of Manchester, Birmingham and Aston, said the Green Party motion "dismisses as inherently racist the idea of Zionism", which they said for many Jewish people represented a longstanding desire for "safety, home, belonging and self-determination".
They added that the motion failed to recognise the "great diversity" of ways Zionism is understood within Jewish communities.
But Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer has defended the position.
Speaking to the BBC, he said he considered Zionism to be racist and described the creation of Israel as "an act of racism" and "an act of ethnic cleansing".
He said: "You cannot give superior rights in law to one ethnic or religious group. Everybody has to be treated equally before the law."
Mr Greer, who is a Christian and a member of the Church of Scotland, said he wanted "Jews, Christians, Muslims, Israelis, Palestinians, everybody to live equally in safety, in peace".
The Inter Faith Advisers also stressed that opposing antisemitism should not diminish concern for Palestinians.
"We affirm that condemning antisemitism and raising these issues cannot mean any lack of deep concern for the extreme sufferings of Palestinian people and of all those caught up in violence," they said.
They called on political parties, churches and faith leaders to avoid "simplistic narratives" about the Israel-Palestinian conflict and instead support dialogue that recognises both Israeli security and Palestinian freedom, dignity and self-determination.