Jerusalem - Christian leaders in Israel and Palestine have agreed to shut their churches for two days later this month to protest at Israeli government permission for a mosque to be built in Nazareth.
"We trust that we do not need to take any further steps in the near future," the leaders said in a statement clearly meant as a veiled threat that churches could be closed at Christmas, wrecking Israel's hopes of a millennium tourist boom.
The statement said "all Sanctuaries of the Holy Land will be closed on 22 and 23 November 1999" to express disapproval of the mosque plan. It was signed by the patriarchs of the Greek Orthodox, Latin and Armenian churches and by the Franciscan "Custos of the Holy Land", who is responsible for key sites.