Rivlin with the Archbishop
Rivlin with the ArchbishopMark Neiman

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met today (Tuesday) with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is in the middle of his first visit to Israel.

The Archbishop of Canterbury holds the position of senior clergyman in the Anglican Church. The meeting was also attended by the British Ambassador to Israel, David, Quarrey the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem Suheil Dawani and the dean of St. George's Cathedral in Jerusalem, Hosam Naoum.

"I am proud to host you at the President's Residence. Your visit carries with it an important message of understanding between our two peoples," the President said. He thanked the Archbishop for his visit. "Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian community is thriving. We are committed to the values ​​of freedom of religion for all believers. It is our duty as a Jewish and democratic state, and it is a basic value."

Rivlin stressed Israel's commitment to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and said that the only way to reach an agreement would require the building of trust between the two sides: "We must not allow the voices of the educators to hate or those who call for a boycott [to dominate the agenda.] We have to find a way to connect. I believe that faith has the power to do this."

“We have heard voices which attack Israel for building Jewish life in Jerusalem," the president said, referring to the words of the Turkish president last night, in which he attacked Israel for exercising sovereignty in its capital, Jerusalem. I must tell these people, for the last 150 years there has been a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. Even under the Ottoman Empire there was a Jewish majority in Jerusalem. Under Israeli sovereignty we continue to build Jerusalem the eternal capital of the Jewish People. There is no doubt, Jerusalem is a microcosm, of our ability to live together. And we will continue to ensure freedom of religion for all faiths.”

"There is no doubt that Jerusalem is a microcosm of our ability to live together, and we will continue to ensure freedom of religion for all religions and believers," Rivlin stressed.

Archbishop Welby thanked the President for his warm welcome, and noted that during his visit he had met with President of the Israeli Supreme Court Miriam Naor, and with a member of the Christian community in Israel, Supreme Court Judge Salim Joubran. He noted that he had been greatly impressed by the tradition of Israel's independent judiciary. “That shows some of the immense strength and depth of this society, its culture and history.”

The Archbishop continued, “There cannot be peace without every person in the region - Israeli, Israeli Arab, Israeli Jewish, Palestinian - all of them being sure they can pursue their lives, pursue their aims without fearing the bomb or the bullet, without fearing persecution, recognized as being validly and legitimately who they are, knowing they can bring up children, and educate them to love their neighbors, respect them, and listen to them even where they disagree.”

He added, “We are at the hundredth anniversary of Balfour, and it has led to extraordinary things,” and noted, “for some of us who are profound friends of Israel, who feel huge admiration, deep affection, and who loathe and hate anti-Semitism, and speak against it wherever it occurs, whether it is implicit or explicit, there is an element of unfinished business. Because until there is peace in region, the Balfour Declaration has an element of unfinished business.”

At the end of their meeting, President Rivlin reiterated his invitation to the British Royal Family to visit Israel. He said, “We would be happy to welcome a member of the Royal Family here in Jerusalem, especially marking 100 years since the Balfour Declaration.”