Riah Hanna Abu El-Assal

Riah Hanna Abu El-Assal (رياح حنة ابو العسل, ; b. 1937) is an Anglican from Nazareth. He graduated from Nazareth Baptist school where he also taught. While at Nazareth he was a member of the PLP, the Progressive List for Peace - a joint Jewish-Arab political party which, while existing only for eight years (1984-1992) is considered to have broken many previously sacroscanct taboos and profoundly influenced subsequent Israeli politics.

In 1998, Riah became the thirteenth Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem and head of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East until his retirement on March 31 2007..

Since retirement, Riah has been engaged in a legal battle with his successor and The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem over the ownership of the Bishop Riah Educational Campus, a school established by Riah while bishop.

Ministry

Riah has travelled widely, raising support and finances for the Bishop Riah Educational Campus and other community programmes with a vision of peace in The Holy Land.

Riah travelled to Australia in 2006 where he attended the Black Stump Music and Arts Festival.

Family

Riah is married to a niece of Emile Habibi. Riah's grandfather started the first modern pilgrim service in 1893 and opened branches in Jaffa, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Tiberias. Riah's son Hanna is currently principal of the Bishop Riah Educational Campus in Nazerth.

See also

• Palestinian Christian
• St. George's Cathedral, Jerusalem
• Progressive List for Peace

References

Further reading

• Riah Abu El-Assal (1999). Caught In Between. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. ISBN 0281052239. (Autobiography)

External links

• Robbie Low interviews Riah Abu el-Assal
• Church urges action over Israel
• Bishop Riah Education Campus, Nazerth