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Ideas & Issues

Three-Way Split

Israeli-Vatican tensions grow over mosque dispute in Nazareth.

mosque be built. Violent clashes over
the issue erupted last spring.
The Israeli government was forced to
step
in and take action after local author-
Rome
ities
failed to agree on a solution and the
srael's attempt to defuse a
conflict spread to involve broader
Christian-Muslim conflict in
Christian and Muslim interests. Each
Nazareth has soured its relations
side put pressure on the government and
with the Vatican and called into
accused the other side of using threats.
question a visit to the town by the
Jerusalem's Higher Islamic
pope during his millennium pilgrim-
Committee
and the Palestinian
age to the Holy Land next March.
Authority
opposed
the construction of
Nazareth is revered by Christians as
the mosque, and Yasser Arafat even
the boyhood home of Jesus, but today
sent emissaries who tried, unsuccess-
it is Israel's largest Arab town and
fully, to mediate.
some 60 percent of its 65,000 resi-
On Friday, Israel's ambassador to
dents are Muslim.
the
Vatican, Aharon Lopez, told
The conflict centers on plans to
reporters that
construct a mosque in
Israel's decision to
Nazareth near the
allow construction
Basilica of the
of the mosque is
Annunciation, believed
an attempt to
by Christians to be the
reach a compro-
spot where the Archangel
mise and avoid
Gabriel announced to
bloodshed.
Mary that she would
He said that
bear the son of God.
the
issue had been
Israel granted the go-
blown
out of pro-
ahead for the mosque
portion,
and that
after two years of
the
mosque
would
mounting tensions and
not
encroach
on
violent clashes over the
Christian
property
issue between local
nor hinder access
Christians and Muslims.
to the Basilica.
Muslims laid the cor-
Most of the
nerstone for the mosque
plaza
intended for
on Nov. 23, although
pilgrims
would
Israeli sources said actual
remain
open,
he
construction would not
said,
and
the
begin until 2001.
A Greek Orth odox priest, right, and an Israeli police o zcer stand in front of
mosque itself
Churches throughout
the locked gat e of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem Nov. 23 as
would
be much
the Holy Land shut
they keep wor shippers away from the church.
smaller
than
their doors for two days,
Muslims
had
Nov. 22 and 23, in
demanded
originally.
It
will
be
located
efforts
in
this
matter."
protest, and the Vatican lashed out at
at a corner of the plaza on land encom-
The conflict erupted two years ago,
Israel for allowing construction.
passing the tomb of Shehab el-Din.
when municipal authorities in Nazareth
"The decision of the Israeli govern-
The Vatican announced Nov. 18
unveiled plans to build a large plaza
ment seems to lay the groundwork for
that
Pope John Paul II would fulfill
near the Basilica of the Annunciation to
future contrasts and tensions between
his
long-held
dream and make a pil-
accommodate
the
millions
of
pilgrims
the two religious communities,
grimage
to
biblical
sites in the Holy
expected
during
the
year
2000
—
a
Christian and Islamic," the Vatican's
Land
in
the
last
10
days
of March.
Holy
Year
for
the
Catholic
Church.
chief spokesman, Joaquin Navarro-
Ordinarily,
Nazareth
would
be one
Local
Muslims
protested
this
plan,
Valls, said in an unusually strongly
of the stops on such a trip, but no
saying the planned plaza would dam-
worded statement that coincided with
itinerary was immediately released.
age the tomb of Shehab el-Din,
the laying of the mosque's corner-
Sources said the pope might skip
nephew of the 12th-century Muslim
stone.
Nazareth if the situation remains
hero Saladin. They set up an illegal
"I believe that political authorities
tense. ❑
protest
tent
and
demanded
that
a
in this case have a great responsibility,

RUTH E. GRUBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

I

JN

12/3
1999

32

because instead of favoring unity, they
create the foundation to foment divi-
sion," he said.
Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy
reacted strongly to the Vatican's criticism.
The Vatican statement, he told
Israel Radio, is "very grave," adding,
We reject it."
The Anti-Defamation League, too,
took the Vatican to task. In a statement,
it said it was "shocked and saddened at
the Vatican pronouncements laying
blame on Israel for tensions between
Muslims and Christians in Nazareth."
The statement said that while both
sides may not be satisfied, "no one
should question Israel's good faith

Remember
When • •

From the pages of the Jewish News
for this week 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50
years ago.

44 %.52,f0 .3'

Israel's Bat Dor ballet company
began a tour of three cities in the
Soviet Union, demonstrating a thaw
in Soviet-Israel cultural relations.
Alan Goodman, executive direc-
tor of the Jewish Family Service
and Resettlement Service, addressed
the Co-operative Council, League
of Jewish Women.

Amwm,,,• •

Touro Law School in New York

began accepting applications for its
charter class to begin in 1980.
David Schwartz, 50-year mem-
ber of Congregation B'nai Moshe,
was honored at Shabbat services.
The plaza between 39th and 40th
streets on Broadway in midtown
Manhattan was officially declared
Gold Meir Memorial Square.

Michigan Gov. William Milliken
signed a proclamation calling for
the restoration of human rights to
the Jews of the Soviet Union.
The non-religious design of the
1969 Christmas stamp — a Maine
snow scene — has been commended
by the American Jewish Congress.

••„$:;•1•••..,
s.:;.•;••-
ZOW
$
Detroit Jews welcomed Avraham
Harman, Israel's new ambassador to
the United States, at an Israel
Bonds dinner at the Statler Hotel.
The Israel Maritime League in
Canada announced the establish-
ment of a maritime training school
in Israel, south of Haifa.

1 1:101iC

qw ,a,

Samuel H. Rubiner was re-elected
president of the Midwest section of
the Jewish Welfare Board.
In Berlin, the Israel Consulate
and the offices of the Jewish
Agency were closed.
Private and cooperative initia-
tives are being pooled for the large-
scale production of Philco refrigera-
tors in Israel.

— Compiled by Sy Manello,
Editorial Assistant