That roadmap to peace...

[AlanG]

From the Scotsman

Israel bows to pressure to destroy mosque in Nazareth

BEN LYNFIELD IN JERUSALEM


AFTER personal requests from George Bush, the United States president, and the Pope, Israel yesterday destroyed the foundations of a mosque in the heart of Nazareth that Christian groups feared would impinge on what remains of the town’s Christian character.

One policeman was stabbed in the neck and lightly wounded and a small number of demonstrators, including a deputy mayor, were arrested as bulldozers protected by hundreds of police also tore down a huge prayer tent.

Abdul-Malek Dahamshe, an Israeli member of the Knesset, termed the action "a provocation against Islam and Muslims".

The demolition snuffed out, at least for now, what Muslims termed the Shihab al-Din mosque, a structure they hoped to build on a site close to the massive Church of the Annunciation, where, according to tradition, the Archangel Gabriel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus.

Pope John Paul II threatened to cancel a visit in 2000 over the issue, and Mr Bush raised the subject with Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, during a meeting the following year.

During an eight-year dispute, the Israeli government flip-flopped between Christian and Muslim claims. Throughout, Muslims continued to pray at the site. The site is to become a tourist plaza, in keeping with the wishes of the municipality and Christian churches.

Muslims make up 70 per cent of Nazareth, Christians having lost their majority due to low birthrate and emigration.

"This is the second holiest place to Christendom so how could Israel not react when a provocative, illegal mosque was established?" said the police minister, Tzahi Hanegbi.

In the late 1990s, Mr Hanegbi’s ruling Likud Party government allocated the land for the mosque, thereby recognising the activists of the local Islamic Movement who squatted there.

So the Pope and Bush exerted pressure on Israelies to destroy a mosque that is in a city with a 70% Muslim population.

Glad to see Bush (fundamental Christian who believes there will be a holy war in israel within his lifetime leading to Armageddon) is still working towards peace in the Mid East then?