-Caveat Lector- Israel May Take Control of Nazareth By DINA KRAFT .c The Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) -- Nazareth's mayor said Sunday he will reject any move by Israel to take control of the locally elected city council, paralyzed by simmering Christian-Muslim tensions in the town of Jesus' boyhood. Mayor Ramez Jeraisi said he fears Israel might dissolve the body and appoint its own representatives to the council, where parties elected in November have so far failed to cobble together a coalition. One of the principal obstacles to a coalition is a sectarian dispute over a plan to build a plaza to accommodate the anticipated flood of Christian pilgrims for the millennium. Muslims want the site for a mosque. Israeli Interior Minister Eli Suissa launched an inquiry Sunday into the political impasse. With the year 2000 only eight months away, Christian-Muslim tensions are harming Israel's plans to turn Nazareth into a showcase now that Bethlehem, Jesus' traditional birthplace, is under full Palestinian control. ``We cannot allow the city of Nazareth, where millions of pilgrims are anticipated in 2000, not to function as it should,'' Suissa said in a statement released by his office. The dispute over the half-acre plot next to the Church of the Annunciation erupted into violence last week during Easter celebrations. Townspeople, who once prided themselves on their coexistence, saw cars overturned, stores firebombed and a dozen people injured in stoning attacks. Jeraisi, who is a Christian, told The Associated Press that he has received several death threats, the most recent a few days ago. He said he would resign if Israel makes its own appointments to the council. ``We will struggle against it, and we will not accept such a step,'' he said. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
