The anti-millennium: The Islamization of Nazareth

• Published in: Israel affairs Vol. 9; no. 4; pp. 49 - 63
• Main Author: Israeli, Raphael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2003
• Subjects: Arab-Israeli conflict; Conflict; Demography; Islam; Israel; Jews; Judaism; Local Politics; Majority Groups; Mosques; Muslims; Political Power; Population Growth; Regional studies
• ISSN: 1353-7121; 1743-9086
• DOI: 10.1080/13537120412331321523a

Nazareth has been the symbol of Christian presence in the Holy Land for two millennia, but at the close of the second millennium it has found itself at the heart of a controversy, owing to its takeover by the now Muslim majority. Muslim demographic growth has been rapid since the establishment of Israel and not only has this growth accelerated in the last two decades, with increasing Muslim movement within Israel, but the Muslim majority of 70 per cent has become eager to translate its demography into politics. It won the elections in 1998 for the local council, and the current Christian Mayor will probably be the last. To establish their domination of the city, the Muslims precipitated a crisis when they claimed the right to build a mosque on the plaza of the Basilica of the Annunciation. They were thwarted by Christian world opinion, but they have vowed revenge, and when they gain the mayorship the case will certainly be made again for the total Islamization of that remnant of Christian sites in the Holy Land, following the Islamization of Bethlehem under the Palestinian Authority. Reprinted by permission of Frank Cass & Co. Ltd.