New York imam says he’d have picked other site if he’d foreseen disputes

The imam behind plans to build an Islamic center two blocks away from ground zero told CNN on Wednesday night that he would have picked a different site if he had known it would cause such controversy.

"We would not have done something that would create more divisiveness," said Imam Feisel Abdul Rauf.

But he added that moving the mosque now would be a bad idea. "If we move from that location, the story will be the radicals have taken over the discourse," Rauf said. "The headlines in the Muslim world will be that Islam is under attack."

He said moving the center is still on the table.

Rauf also reiterated his recently announced plans to disclose the names of those who donate to the project, though as a nonprofit his organization isn't required to do so.

When interviewer Soledad O'Brien asked if the project would take money from someone who supported Hamas, Rauf did not directly answer, saying he will not be in charge of finances.

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A recent Washington Post poll found that two-thirds of Americans oppose the project. Meanwhile, 49 percent have unfavorable views of Islam, the highest level of disapproval since October 2001.

(Photo of Rauf: AP)