In response to criticism from Jewish leaders over the General Synod’s vote to withdraw investment from companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams has described the move as “ethically” motivated.

Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Chief Rabbi and the Council of Christians and Jews (CCJ) have described the resolution as “ill-judged” and inappropriate as it allegedly fails to realise the potential worldwide effects of the debate. They claimed it could put relations with British Jews in jeopardy.

The Archbishop was speaking at the WCC Assembly in Brazil. He claimed the Synod vote represented a continuation of “a process it has begun with one or two particular companies of testing what they are doing against existing ethical guidelines.”

He added: “The question the Church of England had to face was whether it was willing to profit from activities from which it has moral questions. I have spoken to the Chief Rabbi and to others.”

The Synod motion was a response to the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, who called for disinvestment in companies who profit from the occupation of Palestinian territory, for example the US-based company Caterpillar.

Sir Jonathan Sacks claimed that the Church had “no influence” on Middle Eastern politics, yet he added that its stand on the issue would have “the most adverse repercussions” for Jews in Britain.

Sacks, writing in the Jewish Chronicle claimed that: “The Church’s gesture will hurt Israelis and Jews without helping the Palestinians.”

He continued saying that Israel needed “support, not vilification.”

The CCJ released a statement which said: “The wounds will take a long time to heal and the process of rebuilding trust will be difficult.”

Both the CCJ and the Chief Rabbi expressed their belief that positive investments in Israeli and Palestinian enterprises were to be encouraged, instead of withdrawing funds.