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Vatican
Hails Israeli Decision To Halt Nazareth Mosque
VATICAN
CITY, March 4 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The Vatican hailed Monday
Israel's decision to stop construction of a mosque next to a Christian holy site
in the town of Nazareth.
The
decision "re-establishes legality, the respect of holy sites and the
consideration of a community of believers," Holy See spokesman Joaquin
Navarro-Valls said, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The
Israeli government decided in January to halt work on the mosque, a project
first approved in 1999 that has caused tension between Muslims and Christian
churches in Nazareth, the largest Arab city in the occupied Palestinian
territories.
"This
is not a decision against Muslims, as religious and political authorities in the
region and in the world came out against a project that harmed the sensibilities
of the Christian world and its pilgrims," Navarro-Valls said.
He
said the Vatican hopes that "the traditional and harmonious relationship
between Nazareth's Muslims and Christians, put in danger by a provocative
initiative, will take up again with the contribution of the authorities and the
whole population."
Nazareth's
Muslims refused the Israeli decision of halting the building of the mosque.
"We
will continue the construction of our mosque whatever the price we must
pay," Nazareth's Muslim deputy mayor Salman Abu Ahmad said Sunday, March 3.
Two
years ago, Israel gave the Muslims permission to build the mosque, a move
denounced by Christian groups as an attempt by Israel to win the support of the
increasingly-influential Islamic Movement, BBC’s online news service reported.
Israel
said about a third of the land belonged to a Muslim religious trust.
The
Vatican opposed the plans and accused Israel of creating "the foundation to
foment division", a charge Israel refuted.
Christians
say the mosque is too close to the basilica which marks the spot where,
according to tradition, the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would be
the mother of Christ.
The
city's Muslims want to build the mosque on the site of the tomb of Shihab
el-Din, a relative of Kurdish Sultan and leader Salah el-Din (Saladin), who
freed Jerusalem from invading Crusaders in the 12th century.
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