Anglican bishop granted permission to remain in Jerusalem

The Anglican Bishop in Jerusalem has expressed his delight after being told that he and his family may remain in the city.

The Rt Rev Suheil Dawani and his family were refused permission to stay in the city last August, sparking months of legal and diplomatic appeals.

Born in Nablus, in the West Bank, Bishop Dawani is required to have a residency permit in order to remain in East Jeruslaem, where St George's Anglican Cathedral and the bishop's offices are located.

The permits were granted only after he successfully took the Israeli government to court over its refusal to issue the permits and allegations it made claiming that the bishop had been involved in illegal land transactions with Palestinians.

In a statement, Bishop Dawani said he had been overwhelmed by the support for his application given by the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primates in the Anglican Communion, as well as the Greek and Latin Patriarchs of Jerusalem, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and the US State Department.

"It is with great pleasure, and with God’s help, that I and my family have received our residency permits," he said.

"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.

"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."