Israel halts mosque construction

ap ^ | Jan. 9

[RichardEdward]

Shrine in Jesus’ boyhood home caused much friction

JERUSALEM, — Israel decided Wednesday to halt construction of a mosque next to a major Christian shrine in Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth, an Israeli official said, a project that had caused friction between Christians and Muslims.

THE MOSQUE WOULD stand next to the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East, built on the spot where tradition says the Angel Gabriel foretold the birth of Jesus.

Construction on the mosque was approved by previous Israeli governments and began several weeks ago. Its foundation has already been completed.

The Israeli diplomatic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel’s security Cabinet ruled that building will be halted immediately. Two Cabinet ministers have been asked to find an alternative site in Nazareth for the mosque.

Police in the northern Israeli town were braced for angry protests by the local Islamic Movement, which had funded the mosque construction. The mosque has become a symbol of Muslim aspirations for greater political power in Nazareth, where Christians are no longer a majority.

Christian groups in the city called the mosque a provocation, with some accusing the government of approving it to curry Muslim votes. The dispute also brought tensions between Israel and the Christian world, with the Vatican complaining about the project.

The Israeli government says about a third of the public plaza in front of the church belongs to the Wakf - the Muslim religious trust.

The site had been used in the past as a place for Muslim prayers, a Muslim school and Muslim-owned shops. Muslims say the grave of Shahib al-Din - a nephew of Saladin, the Muslim commander who led an army in defeating the Crusaders in 1187 - lies beneath the lot.

[crazykatz]

Thank Goodness!!

[Rain-maker]

Question is:

Would you halt a termite nest in your backyard?

[isthisnickcool]

What's the problem!? This is outrageous! Where will the terrorists stage from then? This is just to make it less easy for them to kill people. And that's racist! After all the work the followers of Islam put into either having their children die or kill others this stops them from realizing their "religious" goals. And that's racist as we all know!

[Cicero]

Construction on the mosque was approved by previous Israeli governments

Unless I'm much mistaken, this is a bald-faced lie. Construction was approved by the government (singular) of Ehud Barak, who was personally installed in power by bill clinton after clinton had thrown Netanyahu out of office.

Barak's motivation was almost certainly to foment division between Palestinian Muslims and Palestinian Christians. But that effort backfired. Instead, Christians put the blame where it belonged, on the Jewish state, which acted in a most cynical fashion.

Sharon should have put a stop to it as soon as he entered office, instead of waiting until a great big eyesore was built right next to an ancient Christian church. Now what are they going to do, tear out the foundations? More likely they will just sit there, looming up out of the square, until the next Labour government gives the go-ahead to finish the mosque.