By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Published: 00:36 GMT, 26 December 2025 | Updated: 10:30 GMT, 26 December 2025

The Archbishop of York says he was 'intimidated' by Israeli militias during a visit to the Holy Land.

The Most Reverend Stephen Cottrell revealed he was stopped at checkpoints and that militias told him he could not visit Palestinian families in the West Bank.

During his Christmas Day sermon at York Minster, he said: 'We have become fearful of each other, and especially fearful of strangers. We don't seem to be able to see ourselves in them and, therefore, we spurn our common humanity.'

He described how YMCA charity representatives in Bethlehem, who work with 'persecuted Palestinian communities' in the West Bank, gave him an olive wood nativity scene carving.

The Archbishop of York says he was 'intimidated' by Israelimilitias during a visit to the Holy Land

The piece showed a 'large grey wall' blocking the three kings from getting to the stable to see Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

'It was sobering for me to see this wall for real on my visit to the Holy Land, and we were stopped at various checkpoints and intimidated by Israeli militias who told us that we couldn't visit Palestinian families,' the archbishop added.