UK Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks.

The BBC was forced to apologize to the UK’s Chief Rabbi after he was caught off-guard by a TV presenter’s question on the current situation in Israel and Gaza.

Lord Sacks was appearing in a scripted segment on the Today program when, after its conclusion, Presenter Evan Davis  decided to ad-lib a bit, asking the Rabbi what he thought of the current escalation between Israel and Hamas. The Rabbi sighed and responded:”I think it’s got to do with Iran, actually.”

Today presenter Sarah Montague interrupted Lord Sacks to tell him, “We’re live” before Davis added: “Yes, we’re live on air. Any thoughts?”

Lord Sacks, clearly flustered, then issued a plea for “a continued prayer for peace not only in Gaza but the whole region”.

He added: “No one gains from violence – not the Palestinians, not the Israelis. This is an issue where we must all pray for peace and work for it.”

The Chief Rabbi’s office declined to comment following a request from The Algemeiner. On his website, the Rabbi yesterday posted this statement: “In the past week alone over 275 rockets have been fired into southern Israel from Gaza. No nation on earth can be expected to live under this constant threat to innocent life. The people of Israel are entitled, as is any other nation, to live in peace and safety. We mourn with all the bereaved families, and pray for an end to the hostilities from which both sides suffer.”