A group of foreign and Israeli-Arab Christian businessmen has floated a plan to build the world's largest cross in the northern Israel town of Nazareth, the boyhood hometown of Jesus.

According to the initial plans, “The Nazareth Cross” would tower some 180 feet over the ancient town and be decorated with 7.2 million mosaic tiles provided by local quarries, reported The Jerusalem Post.

The cross is an attempt to attract more tourism to Nazareth, something Israel has been trying to do ever since the number of visitors significantly declined following the eruption of Palestinian violence in 2000.

Nazareth officials say plans for the cross have yet to be submitted to the municipality, which may have to reject the project due to expected objections from the town's Muslim majority.