Christian, Muslim groups in rift over Jerusalem church

JERUSALEM, April 14 (JTA) — Church officials in Jerusalem have filed complaints against the group that administers Islamic holy sites here for annexing part of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to church officials, members of the Islamic Waqf broke through a wall in the Greek Patriarchate and annexed a number of rooms — used by church officials — for a mosque being renovated next door. Church officials filed a complaint this week with the Israeli police and demanded that the status quo in the area be restored. Given the sensitivities of the matter, Israeli security and municipal officials were unable to decide at a meeting this week whether to intervene. For the time being, the Israeli officials urged the Christian and Islamic leaders to try to reach an understanding among themselves.