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28.08.02, 14:18
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UNESCO-related group offers to send expert to inspect Temple Mount
By Nadav Shragai and Mazal Mualem, Ha'aretz Correspondents, and Ha'aretz
Service
Scaffolding on the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem on Tuesday.
(Photo: Ha'aretz Archive)
A UNESCO-related group for the preservation of antiquities offered Wednesday
to send an expert to Israel to assess the damage to the southern part of the
Western Wall and the danger of it collapsing, Israel Radio reported.
The group, which made the offer because of the highly sensitive nature of the
issue, said the expert would render an independent opinion.
The offer follows reports Tuesday that the wall in question has gradually
moved outward from its original position. Some people have claimed the shift
is the result of illegal construction on the Temple Mount by the Waqf, the
Muslim religious trust.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will convene a restricted forum of ministers to
discuss the danger of the southern wall of the Temple Mount compound
collapsing.
Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert called on the government Tuesday to take
immediate action to prevent a potential "historical and human disaster"
should the southern wall collapse. "In my opinion, we have reached the moment
of truth," Olmert told Israel Radio. "The government of Israel has no
alternative but to decide to exercise our natural authority with regard to
the Temple Mount.
"We made all kinds of efforts to reach understandings [on the issue] - which
I cannot fully reveal here because of their sensitive nature, both here in
Israel and abroad, to pinpoint the reasons [for the movement of the Wall], so
we can properly address the matter," said Olmert.
On Monday, a citizens' watchdog group sent an urgent letter to Sharon warning
of "a clear and present danger that the southern part of the Western Wall and
the Temple Mount might collapse" as a result of the Waqf's construction. In
the letter, the Committee for the Prevention of the Destruction of
Antiquities urged Sharon "to take immediate action to deal with the problem
before a disaster occurs."
"To date, no steps have been taken in the matter, which means that nothing
can be done to correct the situation," said archaeologist Eilat Mazar, a
member of the group. The question now is "whether the Wall will collapse on
thousands of worshipers or if it will happen in a controlled manner."
Diplomatic efforts to ascertain extent of danger go awry
Last week, the Foreign Ministry, intervening on behalf of a delegation of
Jordanian engineers, returned to the group special drilling equipment that
had been confiscated by border authorities. The Jordanians had intended to
use the equipment, under the supervision of the Waqf, in the area of the
southern wall of the Temple Mount. Israel has suggested that renewed
Jordanian involvement on the Temple Mount stems from the Waqf's refusal to
allow the Antiquities Authority to examine and treat the extensive bulge that
formed in the southern wall over the past few years.
Following a series of contacts held before last week's incident - including a
conversation between Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Jordan's King Abdullah
and a cable from the Prime Minister's Office to Egypt - the Waqf agreed to
allow the Jordanians to investigate the problem. Israel, for its part, agreed
to allow the drill findings to be examined in a laboratory in Amman.
But something went awry along the way. The Jordanians returned to Amman
without carrying out the drilling operations. Israel said the Waqf, which is
strongly influenced by the Palestinian Authority, did not hold up its side of
the agreement. The Waqf said there was no agreement and that only the Muslim
religious authorities are in charge of the Mount.
The bulge in the wall is not a new development. The Committee for the
Prevention of the Destruction of Antiquities links the problem to work
carried out in recent years in the area of Solomon's Stables.
Jerusalem District archaeologist Gon Zeligman, however, said he does not
believe the work near the stables is connected to the current problem.
Bulge covers 190 square meter area
The bulge in the southern wall of the Temple Mount compound stretches over
190 square meters, according to Antiquities Authority data. The most
prominent bulge reaches a depth of about 70 centimeters and is located west
of the southeastern corner of the Mount.
The bulge reaches a depth of 30 centimeters on 60 square meters of the
affected area, while it is between 10 to 20 centimeters deep in the rest of
the area.
The Antiquities Authority has also found evidence of "very advanced erosion
of the rocks of the southern wall that is causing a real and grave danger to
the structure," and "if the erosion issue is not dealt with, it could also
cause the southern wall to become unstable."
The reasons for the swelling are unknown, and sources at the authority said
that until the Waqf okays a thorough examination of the matter, all
assumptions can be considered valid.
Jerusalem District archaeologist Gon Zeligman said the bulge is the result of
faulty construction.