http://www.boston.com/dailynews/319/world/Muslims_begin_construction_of_:.shtml

Muslims begin construction of mosque in Nazareth despite Christian protests

By Laurie Copans, Associated Press, 11/15/2001 05:47

JERUSALEM (AP) Despite protests by the Vatican and Israeli authorities, Muslims in Jesus' boyhood town of Nazareth have begun constructing a mosque near the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of the main Christian shrines in the Holy Land.

The Israeli government threatened to stop the construction by force, despite the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this weekend. Local Christians warned that the work could re-ignite interreligious violence that erupted at the site two years ago.

In Rome, the Vatican called on the Israeli government to stop ''Muslim extremists'' from building the mosque next to the church marking the site where Christians believe the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus.

''Building the mosque here will in effect put this holy place in a state of permanent siege and make its gate a gathering place for the most hostile elements,'' the statement said, according to the Vatican news service Fides.

Muslims in the city accused the Vatican of meddling in local affairs.

''The Vatican wants to control Nazareth,'' said Salman Abu Ahmad, leader of the local Islamic Movement.

Construction of the mosque began Monday, without the necessary permits, but the Israeli Lands Authority ordered it halted. The Waqf, or Islamic Trust, stopped the work Wednesday but said it will start again if it does not get the necessary permits within a week.

Witnesses said crews were working at the site Monday and Tuesday nights in an apparent attempt to keep the construction secret.

A lawyer for the Muslims, Dan Shafrir, said the construction had been going on day and night. The Israeli Lands Authority promised to help the Islamic Trust obtain the permits for the Muslim-owned land if the construction was stopped, Shafrir said.

''We're not hiding anything from anyone,'' Shafrir said. ''Whether or not we get the permits, we will continue construction in a week.''

Christians are a minority in Nazareth, and tensions over the mosque have been running high between the Christian community and the Muslim majority in the city of 70,000. Nazareth is the largest Arab city in Israel.

Muslims in Nazareth say a Crusader-era sage is buried in a plot outside the Basilica of the Annunciation. Israel's previous government had agreed that Muslims could build a mosque on one-third of the land. Church leaders in the Holy Land complained that Israel made excessive concessions to the Muslims.

Israel's current government suggested it may not abide by promises made by its predecessor. ''We are absolutely against the work going on at the moment,'' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nachshon.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is Muslim, sided with the Christians in the dispute, saying in December 1999 that the Muslims should not build the mosque so close to the church.

-- Anonymous, November 15, 2001