'In short, the opposition to the Jerusalem meeting has nothing to do with the internal politics of the Anglican Communion, and everything to do with the politics of the Diocese of Jerusalem.

'Bishop Dawani is engaged in a power struggle with the former Bishop over control of jobs and contracts for the diocese's extensive school and hospital network. Bishop Dawani needs to keep the support of the Palestinian activists in the diocese, and his opposition to GAFCON is being driven by this internal political calculus, I believe.

'The struggle began with the election of Bishop Dawani as bishop coadjutor in 2005. Bishop Dawani was not the outgoing Bishop's, the Rt. Rev. Riah Abu al-Assal's candidate. The election of Bishop Dawani upset the patronage system set up by Bishop Riah---whose family and supporters held most of the jobs and business contracts given by the diocese.

'The split between Riah and Dawani had a public airing in the summer of 2006 when Archbishop Williams announced the Anglican-Judaism dialogue commission. Bishop Riah was cut out of the planning for these talks, and learned of them when the news was made public. Bishop Dawani, however, was involved from the start and has been a supporter of the dialogue.

'The Palestinian activists in the diocese were not happy with Riah. Though a friend of Arafat, Riah was not part of the circle around the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Centre run by Canon Naim Ateek. Riah was considered 'soft' on the political question by the hardliners within the diocese.

'Dawani does not come from the activist wing of the diocese either. In the summer of 2006 Bishop Riah accused Bishop Dawani of being soft on Israel after the dialogue commission was announced, voicing his displeasure with the commission and for having been sidestepped by Lambeth Palace in the deliberations in favor of Dawani.

'While this was taking place, an internal investigation of Bishop Riah's handling of the finances was underway. In September 2006 the investigation committee released a private report documenting [alleged] acts of fraud committed by Bishop Riah's family --- essentially kickbacks. [It is alleged that] Contracts were given to businesses with the understanding that commissions would be paid to Bishop Riah's son-in-law---who was heavily in debt to his father. The report documented contracts given without competition to businesses who then gave a commission to the bishop's son in law, who then repaid his father in law for outstanding loans given over the years.

'In December 2006 I was given a copy of the internal investigation of Bishop Riah. One of the details unearthed in the report was that the patronage system ---specifically jobs in the diocese's schools and hospitals --- was set up so that it would be very costly to fire anyone. The effect was to ensure that when Bishop Riah was out of power, his patronage system would remain in place, and Bishop Dawani would not be able to get rid of them.

'In 2007 Bishop Riah retired and the investigations into his financial misconduct were dropped. However the battle for control did not abate. One of the variables in the fight was the activist block. They were not happy with either side, but were upset with the overtures to Israel coming from Lambeth Palace with the support of Dawani.

'As an aside, the suggestion that GAFCON meeting in Cyprus was also made about the Anglican-Jewish dialogue. Lambeth Palace initially suggested meeting in Cyprus for the Dialogue with the Jews. The Rabbis thought this was ridiculous and insisted that the venues be London and Jerusalem, not London and Nicosia.

'In the background of course is the deteriorating political and security situation in Gaza and the West Bank --- with the division of Palestine into two states: one for Hamas in Gaza and one for Fatah on the West Bank. Under Riah the diocese was strongly linked to Arafat and Fatah. However, with the death of Arafat, Fatah has fallen on hard times.

'Bishop Dawani inherited a mess as the diocese's political protector was gone, and no clear strongman has stepped forward. Moving forward to Gafcon, we have Bishop Dawani's public statements of opposition. If the substance of the minutes are accurate, the homosexual issue was raised by Canon Hosam Naoum, the acting Dean of St George's Cathedral. He essentially said this issue is being forced upon the diocese and was not welcome.

'I would imagine that the reason this issue was not welcome was that it was a matter of great contention at the Jerusalem Diocesan Synod in December 2005. Since 1996 the diocese has received over $22 million from the United States, primarily from the dioceses of Los Angeles and Washington---two of the most liberal in the American Church. At the December 2005 synod meeting, bishop-elect Dawani announced a companion relationship with the diocese of Los Angeles. This sparked protest by clergy delegates who stated Bishop Bruno ordained gay clergy and had conduct gay blessing ceremonies.

'Bishop-elect Dawani cut short the debate, saying those innovations would not take place in Jerusalem---and the issue has not since been revisited. The Palestinian political concerns as articulated in the minutes however are paramount.

In the second meeting with Archbishop Akinola, Bishop Dawani brought with him, the former Dean of St. George's the Very Rev Michael Sellors, the acting dean Canon Naoum, and his secretary-- Janina Zang. Zang is a German woman and an active supporter of Sabeel and other pro-Palestinian groups. Sellors, a one time vicar in Norfolk, is currently the spokesman for the Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem---the group of church leaders who regularly speak out on the political problems in the region---and have a decidedly anti-Israel point of view.

'The selection of this group to meet with Archbishop Akinola speaks of the political currents at play. While GAFCON has been the focus of controversy outside of the diocese --- inside the diocese Bishop Riah is making his move against Bishop Dawani. On Jan 20 [...] received from Bishop Riah an email containing a letter from the congregation in Nazareth calling upon Bishop Dawani to step down on the grounds of misconduct. [rg notes: you can download that letter from this post.]

'My sense of the situation is that Bishop Dawani needs the Palestinian activist block to beat back the challenge from Bishop Riah. He also doesn't want to have to make any political decisions --- Fatah v Hamas, friend/foe of Israel until he absolutely has to do so. By being recalcitrant he establishes his credibility with the activists and with the various political factions at work in Palestine. He keeps his relations with Los Angeles, and the supply of funds intact, and he ingratiates himself further with Archbishop Rowan Williams.

'The advantages of Bishop Dawani's strategy are that Israel has agreed to ease its visa restrictions on Catholic clergy coming to Israel. One of the chief complaints of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem was that its clergy had to apply for visas every time they left the country to visit congregations in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. Some long time resident clergy were refused reentry visas when returning to Israel from trips abroad and a number of Arab seminarians were blocked from entering the country to study.

'The Vatican has protested this stance and in December said its talks with Israel were going no where and that the Pope, who wanted to visit Israel, would not do so at the present time. The US State department was enlisted by the Vatican and Secretary of State Rice has asked Israel to settle its dispute with the Vatican.

'By being difficult Bishop Dawani strengthens his internal political position, and also is in the position to accruing some benefit from backing down by way of a compromise that gives him a victory that he can use to strengthen his internal position.'

And it ends there. Except somehow, I suspect, it doesn't....