Abu El-Assal 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 sacrosanct taboos and profoundly influenced subsequent Israeli politics. During his time in Nazareth he was vicar of
Christ Church, Nazareth. In 1997, Abu El-Assal became the thirteenth
Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem and head of the
Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East until his retirement on 31 March 2007 at the prescribed retirement age of 70 years, though he was only seven and a half months short of his 70th birthday. Since retirement, Abu El-Assal has been engaged in a legal dispute with his successor and the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem over the ownership of the Bishop Riah Educational Campus, a school established by him when he was bishop. ==Ministry==