Justin Welby expresses ‘deep regret’ at refusal to meet Palestinian pastor

Justin Welby was advised that meeting Rev Dr Munther Issac would cause problems with the Jewish community in the UK. Photograph: Doug Peters/PA

The archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his deep regret at his decision to refuse to meet a renowned Palestinian pastor if he shared a political platform with the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Justin Welby said in a post on social media he would now meet the Rev Dr Munther Isaac, next week.

The pastor of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran church in Bethlehem, who has been highly critical of Israel in Gaza, saw his Christmas sermon go viral when he said if Jesus Christ was born today it would have been under the rubble.

He revealed the archbishop had refused to meet him in an interview with the Guardian.

Welby said on Thursday: “Recently I declined to meet with Rev Dr Munther Isaac during his UK visit. I apologise for and deeply regret this decision, and the hurt, anger, and confusion it caused.

“I was wrong not to meet with my brother in Christ from the Holy Land, especially at this time of profound suffering for our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters. I look forward to speaking and praying with him next week.”

Isaac replied: “Thank you archbishop. I welcome this statement, and I look forward to our meeting next week as brothers in Christ.”

Welby had been advised that meeting Isaac would cause significant problems for his relations with the Jewish community in the UK.

Welby received a mixed reaction to his admission of error. Brendan Cox, the husband of the murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, said: “Admitting mistakes – especially publicly – is the sign of a reflective and thoughtful leader. More people in the public eye should be open about the mistakes they make.”

Welby’s original decision not to meet Isaac was described as “appalling” by members of Christians for Palestine UK in a letter in this week’s Church Times. “Dr Isaac speaks prophetically, with moral authority and clarity. In contrast, the Church of England’s position on Gaza has been equivocal and misguided,” the letter says.

When he revealed the cancellation, Isaac originally told the Guardian that the archbishop’s decision was shameful. “It’s not my type of Christianity not to be willing to meet another pastor because you don’t want to explain why you met him,” he said. “This sums up the Church of England. They danced around positions and ended up saying nothing. They lack the courage to say things.”

Isaac spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in London on 17 February where Corbyn was also a speaker.