Church of England, Pro-Palestinian Document, and Cultural Boycott: A Contested Narrative

The commentary focuses on two recent pro-Palestinian initiatives that the author argues weaponize “decolonization” rhetoric to delegitimize Israel’s right to self-defence. First, a Palestinian-drafted “Kairos II” document slated for discussion at the Church of England’s General Synod urges the Church to “distinguish between dialogue with Jews and dialogue with Zionism,” effectively excluding most Jewish voices. Second, the off-Broadway play *Birthright*—which follows former Birthright Israel participants—has been targeted for boycott by groups such as Artists for Ceasefire and Theater Workers for a Ceasefire, who claim the production promotes a false “symmetry” between oppressor and oppressed.

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Both items appear in a right-leaning opinion piece, indicating that the analysis reflects the author’s perspective rather than neutral reporting. The General Synod convened from Monday through Tuesday, while the play’s boycott follows a broader BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign that seeks to pressure cultural institutions. The author links these actions to a growing “colonizer vs. colonized” discourse that, in his view, seeks to strip Jews of any legal claim to self-defence.

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• Sir Ephraim Mirvis, Chief Rabbi of England, who urged the Church to reject Kairos II.

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• Church of England General Synod, the decision-making body considering the document.

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• Unspecified Palestinian group, author of Kairos II.

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• Artists for Ceasefire and Theater Workers for a Ceasefire, activist collectives boycotting *Birthright*.

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• PJ Grisar, journalist for *The Forward* who reported on the boycott.

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The author contends that Kairos II’s language frames Israel’s defensive war as “genocidal” and portrays Jews as colonizers without basis. He further argues that the boycott’s rationale—that the play creates “symmetry” between oppressor and oppressed—effectively excuses violent resistance, including sexual violence, by invoking decolonisation principles.

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• “The genocidal war on Gaza is the continuation of the Zionist project to seize all of Palestine, emptied of its Palestinian people.” — Seth Mandel, Commentary

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• “distinguish between dialogue with Jews and dialogue with Zionism,” — Seth Mandel, Commentary

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• “Normalization includes any plays, festivals, and other kinds of cultural activities that are based on the false premise of symmetry between oppressors and oppressed or which assume colonizers and colonized are equally responsible for the ‘Israel/Palestine conflict.’” — Seth Mandel, Commentary

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• “ Decolonization principles, therefore, excuse not just certain types of violent resistance but even rape and sexual torture of innocent women.” — Seth Mandel, Commentary

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• “[Israel’s] claim of ‘self-defense’ cannot stand. How can a colonizer defend itself against those it has colonized and expelled from their land?” — Seth Mandel, Commentary

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