New York, NY – Reports the Islamic community will abandon plans to build a mosque near the site of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City were “completely incorrect,” property owner Sharif El-Gamal said Monday.
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“We are committed to our plans of building Park51 to serve the community of lower Manhattan. Our mission is one of peace, understanding and tolerance,” El-Gamal of Soho properties told Fox News Channel.
Israel’s English-language newspaper Haaretz Monday cited sources in New York as saying Muslim leaders were considering abandoning the controversial plan, (reported here on Vos Iz Neias).
Sources said it was thought abandoning the site was preferable to unleashing a wave of bitterness towards Muslims and that it would also show sensitivity to the families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks and American public generally. A lack of funding for the project was also quoted as a factor in the decision.
Opponents, particularly conservatives, have called the proposed mosque near the site of the 2001 terror attacks an affront to those who died. But the plans do have the support of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and U.S. President Barack Obama.
Its rare that we would support an Islamic position over that over so many yiddeshe mosdos but here they are right. This mosque should get built as proposed near ground zero. Otherwise, we make a mockery of U.S. values and religious freedom.
They’re negotiating. They will eventually get federal or NYS land for cheap, through some underhanded contrivance which will not be generally known, plus funding from a “private” source and will build farther away from Ground Zero.
#1 Good on you. That is one of the best guiding principles of this country. And it protects us from antisemites as much as it protects Muslims from today’s bigots.
But please remember:
1) It isn’t even within sight of the WTC site
2) It isn’t a mosque
3) There are already mosques closer than the old Burlington Coat Factory
4) The guy behind it was endorsed by President Bush
we are put in an awkward position where we look bad if we criticize (since religious freedom is fundamental to this country) but the organizers of this mosque have chutzpah putting it there, they are probably just doing it to get attention and make a statement.
#1 the issue here is the name they are giving it and the meaning behind it.