Mar. 3, 2002 | Associated Press
'J E R U S A L E M, March 3 — Israel announced a permanent halt Sunday on construction of a large mosque next to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, drawing strong condemnation from Muslims in the biblical town. The Islamic Movement in Nazareth, the group that wants to build the mosque, accused Christian leaders abroad of meddling in a local affair and said it would not abandon its plans.
"We totally reject this decision, we are going to stay in our holy land until we finish building the mosque," said Salman Abu Ahmed, the group's leader. The issue has raised tensions in Israel's largest Arab city since 1998, when Muslims received government permission to build a mosque on a lot adjacent to the basilica where they say a sheikh was buried.
Christian leaders have said that building a mosque so close to the Basilica the largest in the Middle East and the site where tradition says the Angel Gabriel foretold Jesus' birth would be disrespectful. Pope John Paul II threatened to cancel a visit in 2000 over the issue, and President Bush raised the subject with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during a meeting last year.
The foundation of the mosque has been set, but the building permits have never been issued. Israel has proposed alternate sites, which Muslims in Nazareth have rejected. Natan Sharansky, the Israeli Cabinet minister in charge of a committee the government set up last month to resolve the dispute, announced Sunday that construction of the mosque would be halted for good.'
Israel protects the Holy Land.
A PRUDENT AND WISE decision.
See, Sugar, there ARE areas of common ground. THERE IS HOPE!