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Violence erupted Easter Sunday, April 4, in Nazareth, with both Christians and Muslims accusing each other of starting the taunting and stoning attacks.
According to several Western media sources, a plan which the Israeli government suggested-to turn Nazareth into a showcase for pilgrims-has brought about these high tensions in the the town of 42,000 Muslims and 18,000 Christians.
At the core of the dispute is a half-acre plot next to the Church of the Annunciation. The Christian mayor, Ramez Jeraisi, wants to build a Venetian-style plaza for millennium pilgrims there. Many Muslims in the town complain that even though they constitute a majority, they have not been adequately represented and that Christians have dominated the town's affairs.
Several people were injured in April 4 street clashes and the windows of dozens of cars owned by Christians were smashed.
The Lutheran Bishop in Jerusalem, Munib A. Younan said, gThe incidents are very serious, especially now as Palestinian Christians are living in a time of testing and fear. We are afraid that these incidents will cause more emigration. Our hope is that new incidents will not be encouraged for Israeli electoral reasons.h
On April 5, 1999, the Patriarchs of Jerusalem, the Franciscan Custos and Heads of the Christian Communities in the Holy Land, issued Communique on the incidents. In the document, they wrote that they decided to close the Basilica of the Annunciation and all churches in the town. They called believers on both sides to resort to reason and to help end the violence, gbecause the end result will neither benefit the Christian nor the Moslem and the only loser will be the Holy City of Nazareth" 
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