The Bishop of Norwich has just returned from Jerusalem and the West Bank – his first visit since being there during the atrocities of the October 7 Hamas attacks.
The short visit, to support Palestinian Christians and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, Archbishop Hosam, included meeting Palestinian farmers and taking a communion service in a cave near Bethlehem. He also met a rabbi and Jewish Israelis working on environmental projects.
“It was simultaneously challenging, sobering, bewildering and uplifting to be with Palestinian Christians as we approach Holy Week and to assure them of the prayers of the people in the Church of England.” said Bishop Graham.
“Seeing the work of all of those trying to bring peace to this land, was heartening. Seeing the daily trauma and threat that they face was heartbreaking.”
As lead bishop for the environment for the Church of England and biodiversity lead for the Anglican Communion, Bishop Graham said he had paid particular attention to ecology and land rights as he met Israeli Jews and Christian Palestinians of this nature-rich, blessed, divided, fought-over and deeply-scarred holy land.
He held a communion service in a cave chapel near Bethlehem, where he met the Nassar family, whose farm is under threat from illegal Israeli settlements. He saw valleys of olive groves and flowers, owned and tended by generations of Palestinians, which settlers are seizing, often violently or through years of legal disputes.
In Bethlehem he visited the Aida refugee camp and the Icon School where young Palestinian Christians learn the ancient art of icon painting. Listening to their concerns, he heard how they fear the violence which surrounds and threatens them, with many considering a life of exile abroad.
On Sunday Bishop Graham presided at the Anglican Sunday service in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Father Fadi Diab, Rector of St Andrew’s, Ramallah, said: “Bishop Graham’s eagerness to listen and learn about the challenges facing the Christian community in Palestine was very much appreciated. We were empowered by his presence and words of encouragement.”
In Ramallah the bishop experienced some of the restrictions on Palestinians going about their day-to-day lives. “It took 80 minutes to get through the checkpoint to Jerusalem. The IDF soldiers assess you first through the sights of an assault rifle,” said Bishop Graham.
The visit to Jerusalem and the West Bank to support Christians in the Holy Land during the Archbishopric of Canterbury vacancy was the latest in a series by Anglican bishops.
Bishop Graham spoke with an Israeli peace activist who had lost friends in the October 7th terrorist Hamas attack and heard about the pain and psychological impact on Israelis of the hostages still being held in Gaza. Their images, with agonised messages from family and friends, line roads leading to and from Ben Gurion airport.
He spent time with Rabbi Yonatan Neril, author of the Eco Bible commentary and campaigner for interfaith and environmental cooperation, and shared the Shabbat dinner at his home.
On his final day he toured Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, meeting Israeli scientists passionate about cross-cultural collaboration to build communities of trust, and saving the region’s native wild species threatened by climate change.
As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, Bishop Graham walked the route Jesus took through Jerusalem on Good Friday to the site of his crucifixion, and visited the ancient church built over the hill of Calvary and the garden tomb of the resurrection. Videos the bishop recorded will be released during Holy Week and Easter.