Archbishop of Canterbury calls for end to Israeli Occupation

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called for the termination of the Israeli Occupation and urged global governments to adhere to international law, Middle East Eye reported.

His remarks on Friday followed an advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) two weeks ago, which deemed “Israel's” presence in the occupied Palestinian territories as "unlawful."

The ICJ's opinion condemned the Israeli Occupation, particularly its "near-complete separation" of people in the West Bank, as a breach of international laws concerning "racial segregation" and "apartheid." 

The court's findings also emphasized the need for “Israel” to make reparations to Palestinians and for the international community to refuse to recognize the occupation as legal.

Welby stressed the importance of upholding the ICJ’s decision, stating, "The [ICJ] makes definitively clear that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and needs to end as rapidly as possible." 

This is particularly significant as the Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England and the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, playing a crucial role in guiding the church’s doctrine, representing its interests, and influencing global Christian affairs.

He criticized the selective enforcement of international law, calling for an "unwavering commitment" to its principles. 

"Now is the time to reverse that deeply damaging trend," Welby added. 

"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 is one of systemic discrimination," he said.