Posted on 05/29/2003 12:29:05 PM PDT by anotherview
May. 29, 2003
8 trucks with construction materials permitted on Temple Mount to fix bulge
By ETGAR LEFKOVITS
Eight trucks filled with construction materials were permitted to enter Jerusalem's Temple Mount early this week as part of the ongoing Jordanian repair work of the bulge on the southern wall of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem police said Thursday.
Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said Thursday that the trucks, laden with building materials, were allowed into the mount with the prior approval and knowledge of the political echelon.
The head of the Jordanian team of engineers overseeing the repair work of the bulge, Dr. Raif Najim, told the Post earlier this month the final stage of renovation of the wall, which involves repairing and replacing some of the damaged 2000-year-old stones, was now underway.
Najim said that the repair work, which began in December following a two year impasse between Israel and the Palestinian-controlled Wakf over who would carry out the renovations at the bitterly contested holy site, would be completed in about three months.
Fearing renewed violence, police have barred non-Muslims from entering the Temple Mount since Ariel Sharon's controversial visit in September 2000, leaving the area without any archaeological supervision.
The renewed entry of heavy equipment into the historical-rich site without the presence of archaeologists was troubling to some.
"We are deeply concerned over reports of very large amounts of construction materials enter the temple mount without any archaeological supervision." said Hebrew University Professor, Dr. Eilat Mazar, a member of the Committee Against the Destruction of Antiquities on the Temple Mount.
"Let us hope that this is not a 'Solomons Stables Two'," Mazar said, referring to the immense mosque constructed at the site, alongside the inner area of the bulge, under Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's tenure.
The 32 months since Sharon's visit is the longest period Judaism's holiest site has been closed to Jews and Christians since the unification of Jerusalem in 1967.
In the last few months, Jerusalem police chief Mickey Levy has said that talks were underway to reopen the site to visitors, a view that was shared by the chief Jordanian engineer.
Meanwhile, as thousands of Israeli teens braved desert heat-wave conditions and made through the streets of the Old city to take part in Jerusalem Day ceremonies at the Western Wall, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that the capital was more protected today than it ever was since its reunification thirty six years ago because of the present government's unequivocal policy that the city must remain "Israel's undivided, eternal capital forever."
"We will never give up Jerusalem, never ever," Sharon said at the state's official ceremony marking Jerusalem Day at the capital's Ammunition Hill.
The premier's words, coming just hours before his second summit meeting with the Palestinian premier in as many weeks, was met with loud applause from the audience that converged on the site of one of the deadliest battle in Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War.
The annual ceremony, which was held this year under a sand-filled overcast sky and dirty drizzle, offered the crowd of young and old - former paratroopers and current day bearers of the red beret - a mix of sad reminiscence, together with hope for a better future. "Even today peace is our great hope," said President Moshe Katsav, voicing the hope that, "the coming weeks will offer us a chance for peace."
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"We are deeply concerned over reports of very large amounts of construction materials enter the temple mount without any archaeological supervision." said Hebrew University Professor, Dr. Eilat Mazar, a member of the Committee Against the Destruction of Antiquities on the Temple Mount.
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