[1] This phenomenon is not unique to Nazareth Illit For more on this phenomenon and its causes “Arabs Flock from Beit Hanina to Ramat Aviv,” The Marker (18.12.2005) [2] Ahikam Moshe David “Nazareth Illit: Clashes in the Midst of the Operation in Gaza,” NRG (01.10.2009) [3]  Ahikam Moshe David “Goodbye Nazareth Illit: Shimon Gafsou’s Plan to Judaize the City,” NRG (10.11.2009); Avika Lam “The Jews of Nazareth Illit Fight for the City’s Identity,” Channel-20 Y-NET (25.02.2015) [4]  “Gafsou Promises to Return to Nazareth Illit and Quiet the Arabs,”(غابسو يؤكد للشمس عودته لرئاسة بلدية نتسيرت عيليت ويطمئن السكان العرب) Radio Al-Shams Website (08.12.2015) [5] Ra'ed Ghattas [6] Kobi David “A Proposal in Nazareth Illit: Arab Families Will be Compensated – and Leave,” Walla News (13.06.2012); Plot publicly supported right-wing journalist “Who Will Save Nazareth Illit?” Haaretz (09.06.2016) [7] “Will Arab Citizens Support Likud Candidate Ronen Plot?” Al-arab (05.06.2016) The possibility that this criticism’s source may have been intended to discredit Bukra [8]  For more on the mobilization of the Bukra website see Shlomi Daskal: “On Behalf of Journalism a Reading of Co-Existence,” העין השביעית (09.06.2016) [9]  Afternoon Broadcast (الظهيرة) [10]  Hassan Sha'alan and Ran Boker “Netanyahu against ’48: On the Closure of the New Channel for Arab Israelis,” YNET (18.06.2015); Yaniv Kovovich and Jakie Khourie “Erdan Orders the Closure of Palestinian Television Channel Operating in Israel,” Haaretz (24.06.2016) It’s important to note that Musawa was not gentle in its treatment of Awawdeh during which  the oversized Israeli flag at the city’s entrance and the Stars of David throughout the city were shown as a background view [11]  “Dr Shukri 'Awawdeh – We are considering running a candidate for the Nazareth Illit municipality” (د شكري عواودة - نفكر بترشيح مرشح عربي لرئاسة بلدية نتسيرت) 9 O’clock with Ramzi Hakim (التاسعة مع رمزي حكيم) [12]“Here’s what the United List achieved in return for the coalition.” ("هذا ما حصلت عليه 'المشتركة' مقابل الائتلاف") 9 O’Clock with Ramzi Hakim (التاسعة مع رمزي حكيم) the coalition agreement dealt with these issues on one level or another [13] “Dr Shukri 'Awawdeh: Deputy Mayor of Nazareth Illit” (د شكري عواودة نائب رئيس بلدية نتسيريت عيليت) [14] 15 “Nazareth Municipality Mercilessly Attacks Nazareth Illit’s Joint List.” (بلدية الناصرة تهاجم ‘المشتركة‘ بنتسيريت عيليت بلا هوادة) [15] Agenda The interview garnered national attention from the Hebrew-language media follow Salam’s comments that Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) had urged Arab residents to vote for the Joint List he justified PM Benyamin Netanyahu’s claims on election day that “Arabs are flocking to the polls.” A close review of his comments indicates that the criticism was directed at Abbas who had promised to help stabilize the municipality’s coalition if would aid the Joint List [16] Riham Riham Yusef Athamneh “Why We Endorsed Plot,” Bukra (09.06.2016) [17] Dr “Between National Identity and Clarity of Vision” (بين الانتماء الوطني ووضوح الرؤيا) [18] Afternoon broadcast (الظهيرة) [19] “Arabs harvest  High Positions in Nazareth Illit Municipality Shukri 'Awawdeh”(العرب يجنون أماكن رفيعة في بلدية نتسيرت عليت - د [20] “Here’s what the Joint List achieved in return for the coalition.” ("هذا ما حصلت عليه 'المشتركة' مقابل الائتلاف") 9 O’Clock with Ramzi Hakim (التاسعة مع رمزي حكيم) [21] Even 'Ali Salam in the eyes of the Arab public (and in the eyes of the Arab political establishment) Salam was perceived as a  collaborator with the right-wing government who had relinquished national principles especially in light of the revelation during the mayoral elections in Nazareth that he had previously been a Likud Party member [22] Dr [23] “Arabs harvest High Positions in Nazareth Illit Municipality Site developed by     Copyright © Yedioth Internet the historic city of Nazareth has been living with an unwelcome neighbour Upper Nazareth was built on Nazareth’s confiscated lands on the orders of Israel’s first prime minister It was part of an official campaign to “Judaise” the only Palestinian city to survive relatively unscathed from the 1948 war But if Upper Nazareth and its Jewish residents were supposed to overwhelm the Galilee city that is that their small city now risks being overrun by the region’s Arab population flee major land shortages and a near-bankrupt municipality recently conceded that the proportion of Arabs in the city – once inhabited almost exclusively by Jews – has risen dramatically over the past 15 years One in five residents is now reported to be Arab members of Israel’s large minority of 1.5 million Palestinian citizens fears of an Arab takeover stand behind a raft of controversial municipal measures from banning Christmas trees and blocking the building of a school teaching in Arabic to the latest: refusing to stock books in Arabic at local public libraries He was found guilty of bribery in February but the presiding judge surprised observers by sentencing him to only six months’ community service on 26 April Although the sentence allows Gapso to return to office the prosecution is expected to appeal the sentence Gapso’s suspension is also likely to continue because he is facing another corruption case He has refused interviews for the time being though he told reporters as he left the court in Haifa: “I am a law-abiding citizen ... I haven’t a shadow of a doubt that I will return to the mayoralty of Upper Nazareth.” has told MEE that he stands behind earlier public statements about the need to keep the city Jewish even as the municipality faces being taken to court over what human rights groups describe as the city’s “racist” policies In a now-infamous response to what he called “bleeding-heart” critics published in 2013 in the Haaretz newspaper, Gapso wrote: “I’m not afraid to say it out loud … Upper Nazareth is a Jewish city and it’s important that it remains so then I’m the proud offshoot of a glorious dynasty of ‘racists’.” director of the Human Rights Association in Nazareth Upper Nazareth’s policies are not simply a reflection of the mayor’s personal initiatives but part of a wider political culture found in both the city and Israel “It is bound up with the concepts of a ‘Jewish city’ and Israel’s Judaisation programme in the Galilee,” Zeidan said “The racism was inherent in Upper Nazareth’s establishment as a way to neutralise the supposed threat posed by a large Arab population the state regarded as the ‘enemy’.” said the city welcomed all Israeli citizens but maintained that it could never have an Arab majority – or an Arab mayor Accusations of racism, while embarrassing city officials, appear to be relished by Gapso. In the last municipal election campaign, in 2013, he littered Upper Nazareth with posters denouncing himself in the words of his sternest critics including a description of himself as “racist scum” Even as corruption allegations swirled around him Jewish residents re-elected him by a landslide majority Upper Nazareth’s officials can therefore hardly be surprised that they are again in the crosshairs of human rights organisations the Tel Aviv-based Association of Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) announced that it was launching a legal challenge over the city’s failure to stock a single book in Arabic in any of its three public libraries ACRI noted that those libraries have many books in other languages even though – unlike Arabic – none are classed as an official language in Israel told MEE that the organisation has sent a stream of letters over the past three years demanding that Upper Nazareth address the failure to provide library and cultural services to its Palestinian population Yosef said the municipality would consider building a separate library for the Arab population next year but added that it would need “time and money” Banna said: “We have yet to receive an answer from Upper Nazareth but what they have discussed previously is creating a small separate library – maybe just a few shelves – hidden away in an Arab neighbourhood “That sends an implicit message that Arabs are not welcome in other areas and especially not in the city’s main public spaces Banna added that city officials also need to create a central database of books in Arabic and provide enrichment services said: “As residents and citizens who pay taxes it is our right – both for adults and children – to receive budgets and resources that allow us to access books in our mother tongue.” Tensions over the influx of Palestinian citizens have been growing since 2005 when the Israeli government quietly designated Upper Nazareth for the first time as a “mixed city” residency is strictly segregated on the basis of ethnic belonging Admissions committees block non-Jews from living in hundreds of rural communities that have jurisdiction over most of Israel’s territory with successive governments refusing to approve a single new Arab community since Israel’s founding the Galilee’s Judaisation cities have come under growing pressure from Palestinian citizens living in surrounding towns and villages that have become massively overcrowded Gapso ran on an overtly anti-Arab platform – later dropped on legal advice – of setting up a municipal fund designed to help Jews buy homes in the city He has refused to allow a mosque or church to be built, or to allot a section of the municipal cemetery for non-Jews. In 2010, he banned Christmas trees in public buildings His officials were also found in contempt by the supreme court in 2011 for failing to implement a 2002 ruling that road signs include Arabic as well as Hebrew After protests in Nazareth against Israel’s attack on Gaza in late 2012, Gapso made headlines calling the neighbouring city “a nest of terror” and demanding the government declare it “a city hostile to the state of Israel.” But most controversially, he has refused to approve an Arabic-language school for the city’s 2,000 Palestinian children. Instead, given Israel’s segregated education system, pupils have been forced to scramble for places in heavily oversubscribed schools in neighbouring Nazareth Letters from ACRI demanding that the mayor honour his legal commitment to the city’s Arab children were characterised by Gapso as “a provocative nationalist statement.” The education ministry has so far declined to intervene as Gapso came under mounting pressure on the schools issue he sent out a pamphlet to residents warning: “This is the time to guard our home!… All requests for foreign characteristics in the city are refused.” He explained that he had erected giant Israeli flags at every intersection between Nazareth and Upper Nazareth “so that people will know that [Upper Nazareth] is a Jewish city” Gapso’s very public struggle against an “Arab takeover” has resonated more widely in Israel where there are long-standing fears among Israeli Jews about the faster growth rate of the Palestinian population faced with growing migration from Palestinian citizens living in surrounding communities Officials in Karmiel, in the central Galilee, set up a hotline in 2010 for Jewish residents to inform on neighbours planning to sell homes to Arabs There have also been reports of vigilante-style patrols deterring Palestinian residents of neighbouring villages from entering the city Nationalist politicians regularly refer to the country’s Palestinian citizens which is increasingly highlighting its historic and emotional links to Palestinians in the occupied territories has also been characterised as a “cancer” and “fifth column” Gapso rapidly became the darling of rightwing parties in Benjamin Netanyahu’s two previous governments for his outspoken stance He found an especially close ally in Uri Ariel a settler and the housing minister until elections last month they devised a plan to quickly restore the city’s Judaisation role A new neighbourhood of 3,000 homes is being built that will be available only for Jews It is being marketed exclusively to the ultra-Orthodox population The decision to bring fundamentalist religious Jews into a city that is currently dominated by secular immigrants from the former Soviet Union appears to have been guided chiefly by demographic considerations the ultra-Orthodox have large families of up to 10 children With 3,000 new homes planned for the neighbourhood this could mean 30,000 new Jews boosting the Jewish majority in a city that currently numbers only 50,000 residents.  Spokeswoman Orna Yosef said the neighbourhood would ensure “Arabs cannot be the majority” said such policies were part of a “continuum of racism” in the city Local Arab residents feared that the municipality’s intention in bringing in religious Jews in such large numbers was to trigger ethnic and religious tensions there have been reports of ultra-Orthodox communities clashing with secular populations stoning cars that drive on the Sabbath and attacking women for being immodestly dressed planning and classifying everything in terms of ‘Arab’ and ‘Jewish’ is seriously abnormal behaviour,” said Mohammed Zeidan director of the Human Rights Association of Nazareth.  “But it makes sense in a state whose goal is to dominate everything that is not Jewish Copyright © 2014 - 2025. Middle East Eye Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters Middle East Eye          ISSN 2634-2456                      Metrics details is an international center of Christian pilgrimage that has capitalized on showcasing its sacred sites Architect Antonio Barluzzi was commissioned to design Nazareth’s modern Basilica of the Annunciation in 1954 and a cornerstone for the project was laid in a well-attended ceremony It seems that the establishment of the modern church was the catalyst for the eagerness with which the Israeli authorities approached establishing a Jewish monument in the region a design process for the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit (subsequently renamed Nof HaGalil) began with the aim of proudly competing with the churches and mosques in the Nazareth region Both the basilica and the synagogue were erected by Israeli construction firm Solel Boneh and were inaugurated in 1968 and 1969 This article examines the impact of the inception establishment and building of Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation on the drive to strengthen Jewish presence in the Nazareth region which in turn stood behind the construction of the Nazareth Illit synagogue This research is based on a comparative investigation of the histories of both structures This comparative investigation reveals the influence of the basilica on the synagogue and the shared aspects of their design and execution While existing literature dedicated to the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit has focused on its significance and meaning as an Israeli architectural landmark examining how a modern architectural trend was used as an agent in the struggle between local Jewish and Christian monumental dominance It also contributes to the literature by shedding light on a heretofore overlooked quest for an appropriate architectural style for religious buildings in the Land of Israel during the mid-twentieth century First the eclectic style of the early design proposals submitted by architect Antonio Barluzzi (1954) and architect Meir Ben Uri (1957) designed by architect Giovanni Muzio (1958–1969) and architect Nahum Zolotov (1960–1968) parallels in the artworks that were integrated into the structures This comparative framework allows for a thorough examination of the impact of the establishment of Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation on the authorities’ eagerness to strengthen Israeli nationality by means of a religious landmark which in turn led to the Nazareth Illit synagogue design The key questions this article tackles are: What were the respective aims behind the establishment of each religious monument to what extent did religious competition in the Nazareth region impact the development of the synagogue’s identity as a national architectural landmark and religious artworks are compared in chronological order to highlight the similarities and differences in motivation ideology and approach that stood behind the construction of both structures This analysis is based on an architectural–historical investigation of the case studies emphasizing their rootedness in the local history of the Nazareth region and augmented by insights from four additional fields: history and theory of architecture By mobilizing diverse methodological approaches this analysis reveals a heretofore overlooked contest in the quest for an appropriate style for religious architecture in the Land of Israel during the mid-20th century demonstrating how modern architectural styles were utilized as agents in the struggle between Jewish and Christian religious sites in the Nazareth region the construction of the monumental basilica in Nazarath impacted the establishment and design of the synagogue through a dialectic interplay of visual similarity and separation Twentieth century religious architecture has received relatively little scholarly attention.Footnote 10 Karla Britton has outlined the major approaches that shaped modern church design of which I will highlight three: the exploration of new materials and the impact of the second Vatican council The modern appearance that characterizes synagogues constructed in Israel’s early years differed from ancient synagogues built in the Holy Land, as well as from early modern European synagogues. Local architects remodeled traditional synagogue typologies by experimenting with major trends in modern architecture (eclectic style, high modernism, Brutalism). This is evident in the adoption of European Brutalism in both structures under examination in this article.Footnote 12 adopting diasporic architecture was not an appropriate starting point for consolidating Israeli synagogue architectural identity the architectural dialogue between the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit and Nazareth’s Basilica of the Annunciation illustrates the impact of Jewish-Christian religious competition on the consolidation of the Israeli synagogue architecture Architect Antonio Barluzzi’s design proposal The Central Synagogue of Nazareth Illit While the early design proposals for the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit were designed by different architects from rival religious traditions they reflect parallel architectural tendencies Both proposals are marked by symbolism and eclectic styles that did not conform to the modern image with which the respective institutions of the Catholic Church and the State of Israel wanted to associate themselves at the time both proposals reveal similarities in the buildings that were eventually erected This parallel trend reflects the different political interests behind their construction some of Ben Uri’s design principles were eventually integrated in the architecture competition’s guidelines and are evident in Nahum Zolotov’s building The synagogue court is one of many examples of the ways in which Ben Uri’s work anticipated a consolidation of local identity in Israeli synagogue architecture the synagogue design articulates an implicit architectural and artistic dialogue with the basilica Interior view facing the bimah and the Torah Ark The synagogue’s design appears conservative compared to the expressive design of the chapel the resemblance between the projects demonstrates that projecting the distinctive character of Jewish prayer—communal participation and its ceremonial objects—were not the principal concerns in the architect’s design The adoption of Brutalism was the focus of architectural dialogue between the synagogue and the modern Basilica of the Annunciation while in the basilica the exposed concrete is only visible in the interior spaces the synagogue’s concrete dome is the dominant feature of the building from both the exterior and interior viewpoints and in particular the prayer halls that were sunken into the ground may be seen as an architectural parallel of the Basilica’s superimposed churches especially the prominence of the Byzantine Grotto on the lower floor The adoption of Brutalism demonstrates the modernization of both institutions while the basilica gained the status of an international pilgrimage site and an architectural monument that represents the universalism of the church the synagogue functions mainly as a local icon demonstrating the quest for the construction of a local architectural identity Salvatore Fiume’s mosaic in the Basilica of the Annunciation’s upper church (Photographer unknown, 2013, National Photo Collection, Photography Department, Government Press Office, State of Israel). Japanese Madonna and Child mosaic in the Basilica of the Annunciation’s upper church (Photographer unknown Artworks at the Central Synagogue in Nazareth Illit: Ruth Zarfati and Moshe Sternschuss Ruth Zarfati, Stained glass window at the synagogue’s lower vestibule (Photo by the author, 2017). preliminary sketch of the synagogue’s stained glass window 11 × 28 cm (courtesy of Zarfati collection) The Basilica of the Annunciation showcases dozens of stained-glass windows the windows exhibit a stylistic duality: they conduct a multilayered dialogue with the Gothic European stained-glass art of the 12th century while at the same time reflecting the influence major trends in modern art Though stained-glass windows are considered to be Christian works of art there is extensive precedent for their use in modern synagogues in Europe One such example is Marc Chagall’s windows in the synagogue of Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem representing the twelve tribes of Israel (1962) the synagogue’s stained glass windows recall the symbolic depictions of menorahs reminiscent of ancient mosaic floors the windows merge the Jewish past and present in the Galilee the synagogue’s art responds to the Brutalist style of its architecture by using concrete as an art material and by adopting modern art trends I explored the boundary between the formal and informal functions of Nazareth Illit’s Central Synagogue; between its formal religious function as a house of worship and the informal ways in which its modern religious architecture serves as an agent in a struggle for local religious prominence While contemporary Israeli architectural discourse was dealing with the search for a sense of locality remained rooted in western European culture All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article Throughout this article I will refer to the town as Nazareth Illit as this was the town’s name during the period under investigation Mordechai Alon in an interview with Tuvia Carmel (see Carmel, 1966a) “A survey of religious institutions in Nazareth-Illit.“Nazareth Illit: A Monthly Newsletter for the Resident [All translations from the Hebrew are my own unless otherwise indicated.] The paper is based on the author’s ongoing Ph.D research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem which investigates synagogue architecture in Israel’s first two decades of statehood and its contribution to the consolidation of a new Jewish national identity For an investigation of the adoption of the Brutalism in contemporary Israeli architecture, see Nitzan-Shiftan (2003 “Nazareth’s Synagogue—Conditions of the Open-Limited Competition,” 24.7.1959 materials for the design competition and jury protocol Meir Ben Uri in a letter to the Minister of Religions Rabbi Ya’acov Moshe Toledano Maximilian Wasbutzky was enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in architecture during the academic years 1928–1930 the Technical University of Berlin’s archive in an email correspondence with the author “Concepts for the design for Nazareth’s Central Synagogue—to the Minister of Religions” “The Establishment of the Basilica of the Annunciation Begins” HaBoker (July 1960): 6 [Hebrew] “Nazareth’s Synagogue: Conditions of the Open-Limited Competition,” ca Architect Meir Ben Uri was the first to point at the resemble between the projects (see Ben-Uri, 1961) Zolotov synagogue designs include the inter-communal synagogue in Be’er-Sheva (1958) and the Babylonian community synagogue in Be’er-Sheva (1980) “Nazareth’s Synagogue: Conditions of the Open-Limited Competition” For an investigation of the MES gardens, see Fraser (2000) For an investigation of Le Corbusier relief Unite’ d’habitation, Marseille (1947–1953) (see Curtis, 1982 Architect’s statement for a local newspaper Amir T (2011) Nahum Zolotov: architect and city planner Bar D (2015) Fifty years since the visit of Pope Paul VI in Nazareth (January 1964): the Israeli context Batuman B (2018) New Islamist architecture and urbanism: negotiating nation and Islam through built environment in Turkey Begbie J (1997) Christ and the cultures: Christianity and the arts In: Gunton CE (ed.) 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Now, with the coming of Christmas, they approached the mayor, Shimon Gapso, and requested that a Christmas tree be placed as well. Gafso, reports Israeli news site NRG (owned by Maariv) “Upper Nazareth is a Jewish town and all its symbols are Jewish,” said Gapso no non-Jewish symbol will be presented in the city.” representing a moderate public that chose to come and live in a heavily Jewish suburb They mentioned the Hanukkiyahs erected in American cities that aren’t designated Jewish “Let them go down to Lower Nazareth,” he said this week To his support came the city’s chief rabbi who said that erecting Christmas tree is unthinkable since it would be “offensive to Jewish eyes.” the author here at +972 Magazine has liberty to comment and analyse since such a story would read so differently to different readers I know exactly how threatening Christmas is to us being the most tempting symbol of non-Jewish life (I wouldn’t even say Christian life it is celebrated by non-Christians and has been greatly stripped of its Christian content over the past century) We have all been brought up with the notion that holding on to Judaism requires resisting such symbols By declaring Upper Nazareth Christmas resistant Mayor Gapso exposes the great insecurity and confusion of the Jewish state If the only way to maintain the Jewish character of his town is by showing complete lack of tolerance and resisting integration of its non-Jewish residents then Upper Nazareth is in fact a self imposed ghetto Having lived within these walls for so long Mayor Gapso has absolutely no clue what non-Jews around the world would feel when hearing that the mayor of a Nazareth suburb bans Christmas trees the mayor of an ethnocentric town with a name that hints at superiority who rejects a symbol of universal tolerance mayors always think forward to the next election who in the past made efforts to draw Jewish families into his town and reduce the percentage of Arabs in it predicts that his act will draw support from the community In that he does not differ from the Jewish mayors of other mixed towns who take an intolerant position whenever that is an option gaining power from the animosities within their communities let us conclude this not with them but with a fond mention of a different city placed a huge Christmas tree right at the boundary of the its Jewish and Arab neighborhoods proving that sharing the festive season is possible even in this troubled land busking and writing for Israeli and international media among them critically acclaimed novels “I’ll meet you Halfway” and “The Tel-Avivian Comedy.” He is the author of seven online travelogues in English He serves as expert on the Holy Land for National Geographic Expeditions Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7 Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives Can we count on your support +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening “Branding.” That’s the new term for racism in the Netanyahu-Smotrich era The name Nazareth Illit (Upper Nazareth) created confusion said a statement from the municipality explaining the decision to change the city’s name mistakenly think that Nazareth Illit is a neighborhood of the city of Nazareth and this hurts the city’s “ability to create an identity Nazareth Illit’s name has been tied to that of the Arab city Now it is being reborn with the name Nof Hagalil which is nothing more than an empty Zionist bluff The new name was chosen by the governmental naming committee and affirmed by a majority of city residents in a referendum But this isn’t the first time that the city is changing its name In its early days it was called Kiryat Nazareth and only later changed to Nazareth Illit Stamp collectors were invited to come to the post office to get stamped envelopes postmarked Nazareth Illit The city elders were proud of the Nazareth name The city built plants to manufacture “chocolates and biscuits” meant for export with the label “Product of Nazareth,” the newspapers reported “enjoys the trust of all the residents without exception and also the sympathy and respect of the Arab residents of Nazareth,” Ma’ariv reported in 1960 “He has also fostered social ties between residents of the two places who often meet at Saharat in the evenings.” The disavowal of the Nazareth name now is an attempt to throw off any connection with what the Arab city represents Whether due to the housing crunch in Arab communities or just for the sake of getting better housing more and more Arab Israelis have been moving to Nazareth Illit The racists perceive this as a threat to the city’s “Jewish character.” The astounding thing is that the city’s Arab residents also lent a hand to this grotesque move Jewish-Arab relations have not always been like this Arab inhabitants of Nazareth sought to have Jews move into their city “This whole situation is no longer tenable Nazareth needs people from the outside who will boost trade and settlement here,” representatives of the Nazareth clans wrote in a petition or more to the point: We ask Jewish companies to send us different Jewish traders.” The signatories to the petition from the Fahum explained that “Nazareth needs 50 merchants who will rent shops and 50 families to move into homes so they can compete with [the city’s]cruel and exploitative merchants.” They concluded their call: “On behalf of the vast majority of homeowners and consumers we welcome this aliya and hope that the enlightened Jews and their trading and financial companies will quickly heed our request.” All of the Arab communities in the Galilee like to call themselves “Arus al-Jalil,” the Bride of the Galilee If the people of Nazareth had a little imagination they would also start calling themselves Lower Nof Hagalil It would drive the Nazareth Illit folks crazy to have their racist branding backfire like that Haaretz IN PLACE Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" vous acceptez nos conditions et notre politique de confidentialité you agree to our terms privacy policy agreement بالتسجيل، فإنك توافق على شروطنا واتفاقية سياسة الخصوصية الخاصة بنا A recent article by Jenny Raz published on Arutz Sheva in which she described the sexual harassment she experienced in Nazareth Illit (Upper Nazareth) at the hands of local Arabs caught the attention of local officials Nazareth Illit Mayor Ronen Plot has instructed city inspectors to actively combat sexual harassment and to issue significant fines against those caught harassing women "The municipal policing system has been working hard and with zero tolerance for punks who come to Upper Nazareth from the nearby communities we recorded fines totaling about NIS 24,000 (each fine is between NIS 500 and NIS 730)," Plot wrote on Facebook "I have one daughter and every time I hear about girls who suffer from harassment and sexual harassment I ask myself whether I am acting like a father doing my utmost to fight the phenomenon," he wrote "My hand is not off the pulse in the public sphere which is under my responsibility," he said as someone who holds the defense portfolio every car honk at a woman walking in the street is an attack on my daughter and causes injury to my heart I have made combating [harassment] my number one goal," Plut declared "And I have instructed the local police not to hesitate to record reports and to impose heavy fines on every harassing punk