The Palestinian-born Anglican bishop of Jerusalem has launched legal action against the Israeli government after it refused him and his family a residency visa for the city. Bishop Suheil Dawani has been denied the visa for more than six months after anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations against him of illegal land transactions and forgery, the Guardian reports. There are suggestions the accusations may have spilled over from an internal Anglican dispute within the diocese, the paper says. A letter in Hebrew from the Israeli interior ministry accused the bishop of “acting with the Palestinian authority in transferring lands owned by the Jewish people to the Palestinians and also [helping] to register lands of the Jewish people in the name of the church”. Dawani has denied the allegations and demanded details including the names of his accusers – so far unsuccessfully. He has been told he and his wife and daughter must leave the country immediately, though the order has not been enforced. William Hague, the British foreign secretary, and the US state department have raised the matter with the Israeli government. Dawani has been supported by Israel’s chief rabbi, Shlomo Amar. The bishop’s diocese includes Israel, Lebanon and Jordan, so his ability to travel to parishes is restricted, as is his status to conduct church affairs. It is one of the smallest in the Anglican communion with 7,000 worshippers across the region. In London an Israeli embassy spokesman said: “Israel is not interested in any unnecessary delays but the allegations are still under official review. We understand it is causing damage as long as it remains unresolved.” SOURCE Anglican bishop of Jerusalem sues Israel over visa refusal (Guardian) PHOTO Episcopal Church
