|
|
|
|
|
« Return
|
|
Roman Catholics welcome Israeli decision to block mosque in Nazareth
2002-058-2
3/6/2002
|
[Episcopal News Service]
The Roman Catholic Church has praised a decision by the Israeli government to block construction of a mosque in Nazareth near the Basilica of the Annunciation, where tradition holds that Gabriel told the Virgin Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.
Earlier Israeli governments had given Muslims permission to build the mosque on the site of the grave of a nephew of Saladin, the 12th century Muslim hero who defeated the Christian crusaders at Jerusalem. Christians opposed the construction, claiming that the proximity to the basilica was provocative. The Israelis halted construction in January and asked a committee to make a final recommendation. The Israeli cabinet subsequently ruled against further construction on the site.
Muslim leaders in Nazareth reacted angrily, charging that the decision followed pressure from Pope John Paul II and President George W. Bush. “We defeated the Crusaders 800 years ago and we will defeat the enemies of Islam today,” said Salman Abu Ahmed, the deputy mayor of Nazareth. “We have an obligation to safeguard the holy places and protect the rights of minorities and their freedom of religion,” said Natan Sharansky, the Israeli minister of housing and construction who headed the committee which will now propose alternate sites for a mosque.
“We hope that the traditionally harmonious cohabitation of Christians and Muslims in Nazareth which had been threatened by a provocative initiative can be restored with the aid of leaders of the two sides and of the whole population,” said a statement from the Vatican.
|
|
|
|
|
|
