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April 23, 1999/7 Iyar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 30
Government caught in middle as controversy erupts in Nazareth
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - Eight months before the start of a new Christian millennium, Israel finds itself squarely in the middle of a Christian-Muslim conflict centered on the town traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus.
The conflict in Nazareth, if left unresolved, could have worldwide repercussions, not the least of which would be the cancellation of Pope John Paul II's planned trip to the Holy Land next year to take part in millennium celebrations.
As Israeli officials attempt to cope with the conflict, both Christian and Muslim officials on both sides of the divide are charging that Israel is favoring the other side.
Because of biblical tradition, Nazareth, with a population of 65,000 - has the image of a Christian city. But only 40 percent of its inhabitants are Christian.
The conflict erupted over a city plan to build a large plaza in time for the millennium celebrations near the Church of the Annunciation, where according to Christian tradition the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that she was to give birth to Jesus. The town's Muslim population objected to the construction plan, saying it would damage the tomb of Shihab a-Din, the nephew of Saladin, the Muslim warrior who ousted the Crusaders from the Holy Land in the 12th century. The town's Muslim residents, who have set up a protest tent at the planned construction site, want to build a mosque there. Neither side appears ready to back down.
Islamic political leaders made the controversy their main issue when Nazareth's municipal elections were held last fall. Islamic candidates won 10 of the 19 seats on the town council. But a Christian candidate, Ramez Jeraisi, was re-elected mayor. Because of conflicting political agendas, the municipality has been virtually paralyzed since the elections.
Frustrated that they were unable to take control of Israel's largest Arab town, Islamic politicians stepped up their involvement in the controversy surrounding the site near the church. Two weeks ago, at least seven people were injured during confrontations between Christians and Muslims that coincided with the Easter holiday. Israeli riot police were called in as youths from each side threatened to escalate the violence.
"It was shocking," said one Israeli police official. "Muslim youths attacked every vehicle whose driver they believed to be Christian."
The violence immediately sparked warnings about the millennium festivities. Officials in Nazareth and in the Israeli government have already invested millions of dollars in development projects in preparation for the influx of tourists expected to arrive from all over the world to mark the millennium. But as things stand now, even the regular stream of tourists, mostly Israelis who visit the town on weekends, has dwindled.
Unable to reach an agreement among themselves, Christians and Muslims in Nazareth tossed the ball into the hands of the Israeli government. On April 18, an Israeli ministerial committee issued a decision allowing Nazareth's Muslim community to build the mosque - provided they removed the protest tent they had erected at the site.
Salman Abu-Ahmad, an Islamic leader in Nazareth, rejected the decision, calling on the Israeli government to recognize that the land in dispute belongs to the wakf, a Muslim body responsible for overseeing Islamic holy sites.
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