A special Israeli ministerial committee set up to decide the fate of a controversial Nazareth mosque has recommended to the cabinet that construction of the mosque be halted, Israel Radio reported Sunday morning.
The construction of the mosque has angered the Vatican and other international Christian groups because of its location right in front of Nazareth's foremost church, the Basilica of the Annunciation.
Israel’s Housing Minister Natan Sharansky, who heads the committee, has also said several times that his committee does not intend merely to reiterate the recommendations of two previous ministerial committees established by the Barak and Netanyahu governments. Both of those committees advised letting the mosque be built.
According to Haaretz, Sharansky said the previous committees did not properly assess the impact the mosque would have on Israel's long-term international relations, "on both the political and the religious level." In addition to opposition from the Vatican, several western governments, including that of the U.S., have expressed concern about the mosque biulding.
The Israeli police, however, have spent the last two weeks preparing for the possibility that the committee's decision could spark Muslim riots. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
