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Appeals on mosque construction
Church leaders seek a reversal in Nazareth
The Franciscan Custos of the Holy Land, Father Giovanni Battistelli, has sent an urgent letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calling on him to interrupt the building of a mosque in Nazareth, on the doorstep of the Church of the Annunciation, “without further delay.”
In his appeal Father Battistelli argues that the basilica would be virtually “under siege” if a large mosque is built on its doorstep, and therefore the Israeli government would not honoring its “guarantee of free access to the holy places.” He further argues that it was the Israeli government that created the danger for Christian pilgrims, with its “ill-fated decision to bow to the extremist elements” in Nazareth’s Muslim community, who insisted on the construction of a mosque at that site. Most of the Muslims of Nazareth sided with Christians in opposition to the building project, in the belief that it would be more prudent to build a new mosque in a different location.
The Custos pointed out that the authorities of Nazareth had already made plans to enlarge the public plaza outside the basilica, making it more accessible to Christian pilgrims, when a few Islamic militants began their illegal occupation of the site. The Israeli government eventually bowed to those militants, and agreed to allow the construction of a mosque on the site they had chosen.
The letter by Father Battistelli alluded to the voices raised in opposition to the mosque construction project by leaders all around the world, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims. He urged Prime Minister Sharon to “prevent a serious danger to Israel’s relations with the Christian world” and to “help rebuild trust with Christian believers in Israel itself.”
The bishop of Nazareth soon lent his support to the Franciscan priest’s efforts. Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo said that the government’s decision to allow construction was a severe blow to the cause of inter-religious dialogue in Nazareth. Until last year, when the controversy about plans for the mosque arose, Christians and Muslims had coexisted amicably in the town, he said. Now, the bishop concluded, “the solution is in the hands of Ariel Sharon.”
Christian leaders plead for peace
Statement by 13 Church representatives
The heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem have issued an appeal for an “urgent conclusion to the conflict affecting the lives of thousands in this land.” The statement, signed by the 13 traditionally recognized leaders of the Christian groups in the Holy Land, is addressed to the “Israeli government, the Palestinian Authority, world leaders (both secular and religious), and to all men of good will.” The heads of the Christian communities voice their concern “for the mental and bodily welfare of all the citizens of this Holy Land: Christian, Muslim, and Jew.”
“We believe that the violence which has intensified over these past months will only end when both parties in the conflict make a determined effort to respect each other’s rights whilst affirming the dignity and worth of every human life, man, woman, and child. We are convinced that peace-seeking negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians are the only assured way of providing for the well being of all our peoples,” the Church leaders say. “Furthermore, we would ask for even greater assistance from our brothers and sisters abroad—governments, humanitarian agencies, as well as churches and private individuals.”
For Catholics the appeal was signed by Patriarchs Michel Sabbah of the Latin-rite Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Ignatius VIII Pierre Abdul-Ahad of Antioch for the Syrian Catholic Church; Father Giovanni Battistelli of the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land; and Bishops André Dikran Bedoglouyan of the Armenian Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate; Maximus Sallum of the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchal Exarchate; and Paul Nabil Sayyah of the Maronite Patriarchal Exarchate. The Orthodox were represented by Archimandrite Cornelius of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate; Patriarch Torkom II of the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Patriarchate; and Bishops Anba Abraham of the Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate; Swerios Malki Mourad of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate; and Abba Gabriel of the Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate. Protestants were represented by the Rev. Riah Abu Al-Assal, Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East, and the Rev. Mounib Younan of the Lutheran Evangelical Church.