April 16, 1999
Web posted at: 11:00 p.m. EDT (0300 GMT)

NAZARETH, Israel (CNN) -- Tensions are rising in Nazareth, where Muslims want to build a mosque next to the Christian Church of the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary to tell her she would be the mother of Jesus.

Christians don't support the plan. Muslims, who are in the majority, say they have been stabbed and stoned at the site of the planned building. In retaliation, some Muslims stoned Christians at Easter. Burned vehicles have littered the street.

The violence has upset the Vatican, which had planned to hold millennium celebrations in the town.

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CNN's Walter Rodgers talks about the flash point that is pitting Christians and Muslims against each other in Nazareth
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