Anglican cleric accused of anti-Semitism after Facebook posting giving credence to conspiracy theory blaming Israel for 9/11
Dr Sizer, who is a prominent campaigner against Israeli policy in Palestine, insisted that even though he strongly disagreed with many of the things others said, he was there as an “ambassador for reconciliation”
The Rev Stephen Sizer Photo: stephensizer.com
The Church of England is investigating a Surrey vicar accused of actively promoting claims that Israel was behind the September 11 terrorist attacks.
The Rev Stephen Sizer, who has a long history of disputes with Jewish community leaders over blog postings voicing his strident views on Israel and Zionism, posted a link on Facebook to an article entitled “9/11 Israel did it” adding the comment that it “raises so many questions.”
Less than six months ago he infuriated the Board of Deputies of British Jews by taking part in a conference in Iran which was dubbed an “anti-Semitic hate-fest”.
Although he has removed the posting, he continues to defend it insisting that he was “encouraging debate” about “serious allegations” – insisting that he could not be sure Israel was not behind the 2001 atrocities in the US.
Speaking from Uganda, where he is travelling, he accused the Board of Deputies of “harassment” and said they had seized on “one little link” in order to “discredit” him.
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The Bishop of Dorking, the Right Revd Ian Brackley, said the Diocese of Guildford, which includes Dr Sizer’s Virginia Water parish, is urgently investigating.
“I want to reassure everyone that we are taking this complaint extremely seriously,” he said.
“Immediate steps are being taken to investigate and we are in contact with Dr Sizer as well as the Board of Deputies.”
A spokesman for the Church of
England added: “These comments would rightly be seen as unacceptable whenever they were posted.
“It is a matter of deep sorrow and shame that they have been posted in this week of all weeks.
“The Diocese of Guilford, where the Rev Sizer is licensed, is taking immediate steps to investigate.
“The diocese is aware of the seriousness of the matter and are also in touch with the Board of Deputies of British Jews.”
Jonathan Arkush, Vice President of the Board of Deputies, told Jewish News: “Posting, and giving approval to, an article which in effect accuses Jews of responsibility for the 9/11 atrocity is unquestionably anti-Semitic, just as it is beyond absurd.”
But Dr Sizer was unrepentant. He told The Telegraph: “I was encouraging debate, I was neither saying Israel did it or that they didn’t.”
He added: “I think they are trying to discredit me – they have tried several times to do that and they have seized on one little link to an article.
“With hindsight I wouldn’t have put it on [Facebook] if I had known it was going to happen.”
In 2013 Dr Sizer and the Board of Deputies reached a mediated agreement intended to end a long-running dispute over postings on his blog about Israel and Palestine.
Poster Comment:
his site is stephensizer.com