Jerusalem's bishop regains visas
ENS
| 28 Sep 2011
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The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, seen from the Christian quarter of the Old City. Photo: Reuter
Permits and visas enabling the Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem, Suheil Dawani, and his family to reside legally in Jerusalem have been reinstated after 13 months of the documentation being denied by Israel's Ministry of Interior.
"I want to thank all of you, my friends and colleagues throughout the Anglican Episcopal Communion and the worldwide Christian community, for your continued support throughout this time," said Bishop Dawani, a Palestinian Christian, in a Sept. 27 letter to international partners.
"It has been deeply appreciated and most encouraging knowing that we have been kept in your thoughts and prayers as we awaited this most heartening outcome."
Many international religious leaders – Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Anglican Communion primates, TEC Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem – had joined in diplomatic efforts calling for the documentation to be reinstated.
The Chair of the St George's College A/NZ Committee, Bishop David Coles, also had written to the Israeli Ambassador in Wellington and received a reply indicating the matter would be resolved.
"I have been overwhelmed by the support given to me," says Bishop Dawani in his letter. "Please know that in my heart I give you all great thanks..."
Israel's Ministry of the Interior denied the residency permit for Bishop Dawani, his wife and his youngest daughter on the grounds that the bishop had allegedly sold Israeli land illegally to Palestinians.
Bishop Dawani also was accused of forging documents. He has denied all allegations, none of which has been substantiated by documentary evidence.
The bishop attempted to resolve the matter -- sending letters to the Ministry of the Interior and the nation's attorney-general requesting to know the specific charges against him and requested reinstatement of the residency permit -- but much of his communication went unanswered.
Bishop Dawani's episcopal ministry requires him to travel throughout the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, which includes parishes and institutions in Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinian Territories.
He has held a residency permit for Jerusalem since 2007.
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