Israel permits small mosque in al-Nasera
Israel, Local, 4/20/1999

An Israeli official said on Monday that Israel has permitted the building of "a small mosque" near al-Beshara church (the church of the annunciation) in al-Nasera (Nazareth), in the Galilee.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisor for Arab affairs, Muti Zakin, told the AFP that the Israeli government permitted the construction of a small mosque on an area of 504 square meters. He added that to complete this project an area of 250 square meters will be allotted on a piece of total area of 1,890 meters.

The municipality, which is headed by the Christian Rames Jarayseh, plans to build a covered car-station to receive the Christian pilgrimages in the year 2000.

Zakin added, "The Muslims can also use for their mosque two bordering pieces of land with a total area of 254 square meters on which there is now the tomb of a Muslim clergy and four warehouses. Zakin explained that the matter "relates to a settlement aiming putting an end to the tension and conflict between the Muslims and Christians in al-Nasera."

Muslims occupy the land on which they have erected a big tent to build a mosque near the tomb of Muslim clergy Shehab eddine.

The papal nuncio in Israel Pietro Sambi announced last week, following his meeting with the representatives of the Israeli Ministry of Religious Affairs in Jerusalem: "I have expressed the protest of Christians to building this mosque, a project which will be damaging for the celebrations decided to mark the end of the second millennium."

Previous Stories:
  Israeli Cabinet discusses the conflict in al-Nasera   (4/19/1999)
  Vatican warns Israel against permitting the building of a mosque in al-Nasera   (4/15/1999)
  Consequences of al-Nasera incidents   (4/13/1999)

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