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