THE Archbishop of Canterbury has written to the Chief Rabbi regretting as “unfortunate” the Church of England’s decision to review its investments in Israel at a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise and a Palestinian administration has been elected that is committed to the destruction of Israel.

In his carefully crafted letter Dr Rowan Williams, who voted in favour of the motion, denies that it represented a decision to disinvest. At the same time, he admits that it was a response to a call from the Anglican church in Jerusalem to disinvest.

The General Synod is facing criticism from church leaders, including the former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey of Clifton, for voting to disinvest from Caterpillar, the US company that makes the tractors used in land clearance in the occupied territories.

In a letter to The Times, Lord Carey said that it was a “one-eyed strategy to rebuke one side and forget the traumas of ordinary Israelis who live in fear of suicide bombers and those whose policy it is to destroy all Jews.”

The Council of Christians and Jews also condemned the motion as “wholly regrettable”. It added: “In an environment of turbulence, anxiety and fearfulness for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike, the motion confines itself to a single issue that will have little consequence for Israelis and Palestinians.”

However, Dr Williams defends the synod as merely urging the Church of England “to engage with companies about whom we had concerns and to encourage a fact-finding visit to the Holy Land.”

In his letter to Sir Jonathan Sacks, the Archbishop of Canterbury says: “The Synod has not resolved to disinvest.”

Dr Williams says: “It is unfortunate that this has arisen at a time when anti-Semitism is a growing menace and when the State of Israel faces challenges not only in respect of the new administration in the territories administered by the Palestinian Authority but also elsewhere in the region.”

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