Temple Mount construction postponed

Palestinians protest repair work over weekend

Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupolianski announced late Sunday his decision to postpone construction of the Mughrabi walkway from the Western Wall plaza into the al-Aqsa Mosque square until zoning authorities complete their plans for the entire section. The archaeological salvage excavation being conducted there will continue.

Tensions in Jerusalem have been high since last week, when Israel began work outside of the al-Aqsa compound and sparked calls Islamic calls for violence against Jewish and Israeli targets. Once satisfactorily planned and zoned, the new walkway will replace an ancient earthen ramp that partially collapsed in a snowstorm three years ago.

Israeli police have restricted access to Islamic sites in the Old City over the past week in an attempt to stifle protests like those last Friday, when about 200 Israeli riot police battled some 3,000 Muslim worshippers protesting the repair work. On Saturday, Palestinian teenagers stoned Israeli security forces, burned an Israeli flag and pelted a Canadian tour bus with rocks. On Sunday only a few minor incidents were reported.

A few simple facts about the work being done at the Mughrabi Gate:

- The work carried out by Israeli professional authorities is completely transparent, which is why the excavations are open to the press.

- All activities are being carried out in a location that is under Israeli sovereignty in an area under the responsibility of the Jerusalem municipality and the Government of Israel.

- The new bridge and the Mughrabi Ramp are located entirely outside of the Temple Mount complex and are not part of it.

- The aim of this process is to replace the old ramp, which collapsed due to natural causes.

- Building the new bridge will not harm any religious feelings and/or interests.

- All operations are in cooperation with UN officials, Palestinian officials and other member of the international community and are completely transparent to them.

See Also: Muslim anger at footbridge outside Temple Mount, BICOM

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