N1 ,1-,siel
4Uv
-7 4b,,
0 r4
sec ,. eix, r,
...ancient Jewish
wisdom for
contemporary challenges.
1:arir
.
41
it
,
1, ...*?9 44111
To Self Improvement
ClAssiFieb
Nazareth Divided
How To
home an
Ideal Spouse
Israeli officials are caught in the middle
of a Christian-Muslim dispute.
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Nazareth
E
ight months before the start
of a new Christian millenni-
um, Israel finds itself squarely
in the middle of a Christian-
Muslim conflict centered on a town
traditionally associated with 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 rake part in
millennium celebrations.
As Israeli officials attempt to cope
with the conflict, Christian and
Muslim officials on both sides of the
divide are charging that Israel is favor-
ing the other side — which leaves the
Jewish state in the unenviable position
of satisfying no one.
Indeed, even after a committee of
Israeli ministers appeared to side last
week with the Nazareth Muslims,
Islamic leaders there rejected the min-
isterial decision.
At least 4 million Christian pil-
grims are expected to visit Israel next
year to mark the new millennium —
but recent events in Nazareth may
well threaten those celebrations.
Because of biblical tradition, Nazareth
— the biggest Arab town in Israel, 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.
The dispute turned violent earlier
this month. At least seven people were
injured during confrontations between
Christians and Muslims that coincid-
ed with the Easter holiday.
Israeli riot police were called in as
youths from each side threatened to
escalate the violence.
Israeli Population Reaches 6 Million
Jerusalem/JTA
Israel's population totals 6 million, a
2.3 percent increase over the previous
year, according to totals released by the
Central Bureau of Statistics on the eve
of the nation's 51st Independence Day.
Jerusalem remains the country's
largest city, with 632,000 residents,
followed by Tel Aviv, with just over
half that number, according to the
bureau. Jewish residents of the West
Bank and Gaza Strip total 172,000.
The bureau registered a decline in
the number of immigrants who
arrived in Israel during the past year
— 55,000, down from the 67,000
who arrived here between the 1997
and 1998 Independence Days.
From a global standpoint, Israel's
4.8 million Jews account for 36 per-
cent of the world's 13.1 million Jews,
according to a study released this week
by Hebrew University's department of
contemporary Jewry.
Jewish Spouses...Best of Friends...Best of Lovers
Rabbi Steven Well,
Young Israel of Oak Park
Tuesday, May 4,1999
7:30 p.m. • Free of Charge • 332
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building, West Bloomfield
For more information or to register,
please call (248) 661-7649.
D. ban & Betty Kahn Building
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield, MI 48322
It's Easy To
Entertain a
Large Group
or Just Getting
in a Little
Personal Time
After a Long
Day of Work.
This Set Will
Do The Job...
First Rate!
And Now for
a Limited
Time, Every
Piece of
Furniture
Qualifies
for a 50%
Discount on
a Protective
Cover.*
,,•
•
'
- -"
•
•
• ‘*
,
'kw
v,•••
•
•
:•• '
7350 Highland Road • (just w. of Oakland International Airport:W‘ at:::• 248-666-2880
M, Th, F 10-9 • T, W, Sat 10-6 • Sun 11-4
*Sorry, prior sales & some resin pieces excluded
4/30
1999
Detroit Jewish News
33