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"It's got to do with Iran" - Chief Rabbi caught off guard on the Today programme

Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says Gaza conflict is "to do with Iran" after not realising he was still on air.

By George Eaton Published 16 November 2012 10:18

Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

There was an amusing moment on the Today programme this morning when, after delivering Thought For The Day, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was asked by presenter Evan Davis for his thoughts on the situation in Gaza. Not appearing to realise he was still on air, he sighed and replied, "I think it's got to do with Iran, actually", a moment of candour that prompted co-presenter Sarah Montague to whisper, "we, we're live!"

Sacks then delivered a more banal response offering a "a continued prayer for peace, not only in Gaza but for the whole region. No one gains from violence, not the Palestinians, not the Israelis. This is an issue here where we must all pray for peace and work for it."

One wonders: did Sacks not finish his point because he thought it was inappropriate or because he thought Today thought it was inappropriate?

You can listen to the exchange in full above.

Update: The BBC has apologised for catching Sacks off-guard. A spokesman said: "The Chief Rabbi hadn’t realised he was still on-air and as soon as this became apparent, we interjected. Evan likes to be spontaneous with guests but he accepts that in this case it was inappropriate and he has apologised to Lord Sacks. The BBC would reiterate that apology."

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Tags: Israel

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23 comments

Sat, 2012-11-17 11:20 — Caroline Crampton

Comments on this article are now closed.

Sat, 2012-11-17 10:31 — kevin morris (not verified)

Speaking as a goy, I had great respect for Rabbi Hugo Gryn who struck me as a compassionate man. It stuck in my craw that Rabbi Jonathon Sacks refused to attend Gryn's funeral because Gryn was a reform Rabbi. Since then I have had little time for Sacks or his homilies.

When it comes to Palestine, I spend six weeks living with a New York Jewish family back in the 1970s. It was a wonderful experience, but something told me over and over again and by several Jews was that Israeli Jews were the most obnoxious people on earth. They no doubt have their reasons, but the time must come when the world calls them to account for what they have been doing for well over half a century.

Fri, 2012-11-16 21:15 — myouz (not verified)

Tony Blair was naive when he talked about Gaza having the capacity to become an Arab Hong Kong. Israel will never allow this to happen. WHat a sheer coincidence that two weeks after the visit by the Emir of Qatar whopledged 4 billion to Gaza for reconstruction that the Israel set about bombing Gaza again.

Fri, 2012-11-16 21:08 — myouz (not verified)

Please watch Harry Fear, the pro Palestinian acitvist. He is currently in Gaza. He is articulate, inspirational, thoughtful. Watch his numerous performances on russia today.

Fri, 2012-11-16 21:06 — myouz (not verified)

Israel is an occupying power and has a legal duty to protect the people of Gaza. What more can they do now. SO FAR ISRAEL HAS; TERRORISED, BOMBED, USED DISPROPORTOANTE FORCE, MURDERED 1400 MEN, WOMEN AND CHIDLREN, DONE ALL THEY CAN TO PREVENT gAZANS FROM LIVING A NORMAL LIFE. AND YET: PALESTINIANS RESIST!!!

Fri, 2012-11-16 18:38 — Charles Adams (not verified)

The BBC has apologised for catching Sacks off-guard.!! BBC must apologised to Iran and Iranian people for all misinformation.

Fri, 2012-11-16 20:23 — myouz (not verified)

the BBC has a lot to answer for with its appalling one sided coverage on Palestine where Israel is heavily favoured, on Iran on Pakistan etc.

Fri, 2012-11-16 19:25 — JJJ (not verified)

Misinformation? Sounds like you work for PressTV, 'Charles Adams'.

Fri, 2012-11-16 20:27 — myouz (not verified)

You should hang your head in shame. You are guaranteed to produce the usual Jewish apologia for Israel. I still do not know why you failed to tell the truth about your origins. So tell us now who you are.

Fri, 2012-11-16 17:08 — Spoba24 (not verified)

Israel never and do not want peace. Israel will always find an excuse to dominate Palestinians and expand its territory. You know the saying the abused turned abuser. Israel will always be an abuser state.

Fri, 2012-11-16 14:18 — JeremyEm (not verified)

It is no secret that Iran supplies thousands of missiles together with money and arms to Hamas and Hizbollah. Over time the missiles are becoming more long-range and more sophisticated.

Fri, 2012-11-16 21:12 — myouz (not verified)

What about the 3 billion annual military hardware package that Israel received from America. Israel is too cowardly to fight its own wars and behaves like a beggar nation always playing the victim!!!

Fri, 2012-11-16 20:29 — myouz (not verified)

There has to be some military balance. Under international law the Gazans have the right to defend themselves militarily against the Israeli army.

Fri, 2012-11-16 13:32 — myouz (not verified)

WHy is it that Israel always portays itself as the victim. let us not forget that the trigger for this violence was when Israel shot a Gazan teenager playing on the beach and had engaged in double secret dealings with Jabari.

Fri, 2012-11-16 19:35 — JJJ (not verified)

Utter lies. This violence is the fault of Hamas which consistently fired rockets on Israel.

Fri, 2012-11-16 13:15 — myouz (not verified)

It is precisely because Israel has received unqualified unconditional support from the Jewish diaspora that Israel continues to behave like a meglomaniac. If the Gaza strike is about Iran, why not strike Iran. Israel has been claiming for the past five years that Iran is a menace. Go attack Iran, if you dare. The truth is that Israel behaves in a cowardly manner, expecting instead that the world community should launch military action against Iran.

Fri, 2012-11-16 12:07 — The Flying Dutchman (not verified)

One also wonders why presenter Sarah Montague felt it was necessary to indicate that Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks was still 'live' on air. Could it be that the Today show doesn't expect its guests to be truthful in their responses and therefore felt it necessary to protect Mr. Sacks from himself.

Fri, 2012-11-16 22:49 — jankaas (not verified)

ik geloof eerder dat normaal gesproken zo'n gast op Thought For The Day enkel zijn stukje voorleest, en dan gaat het radio programma verder gewoon door zonder hem/haar. ik was lichtelijk verrast dat hij iets werd gevraagd. heb ik nog niet eerder meegemaakt op Radio 4. jij wel?

or are you not really Dutch....?

Fri, 2012-11-16 13:30 — myouz (not verified)

Now there is a surprise, the BBC wllingly covering the up for Israel.

Fri, 2012-11-16 12:03 — jankaas (not verified)

of course, that's the solution to this insanity; just pray for peace.

now why hasn't anyone ever tried that?

Fri, 2012-11-16 14:13 — willoyen

George w bush was always doing it, hand on heart. Probably still is. That's why the world is now a better place than it otherwise would be.

Fri, 2012-11-16 18:56 — jankaas (not verified)

exactly. i must say i really am enjoying this abundance of peace that has been wrought by extreme violence and fervent prayer.

Fri, 2012-11-16 12:01 — Mike Sutton (not verified)

I think the Rabbi's very short off-the-cuff remark can be interpreted in a number of ways and I only wished he had the opportunity to say what was on his mind.

To call his call for peace on both sides 'banal' is deeply disingenuous . Whether this is opinion or not, you have a duty to be objective.

It appears to me that the one cannot be seen to be on the side of peace anymore in this conflict - so polarised are the emotions. As much as the Israeli response is wholly disproportionate to Hamas' attacks, Israel *still* have a duty to protect their citizens. Its a shame that they take the tactical approach with tit-for-tat retaliation rather than the strategic approach of sincerely addressing the longstanding issues.