Waqf resumes unsupervised digging on Temple Mount in Jerusalem

By Nadav Shragai - Ha'aretz Correspondent Ha'aretz 11 June 2000

Ignoring an earlier uproar over its archaeological work on the Temple Mount,
the Waqf (Islamic religious trust) has continued to dig up and use heavy
vehicles on the Mount as part of its work on the northern arches of
Solomon's Stables.

Such work was a source of controversy earlier this year when the Waqf began
its work on the stables to widen the entrance gate to the area to create an
emergency exit for the many visitors to Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Waqf was also
accused of dumping large amounts of dirt in the Kidron stream, and fears
were raised that ancient artifacts dating back to the First and Second
Temple eras were being destroyed by the work.

The current spate of work is being carried out without the Antiquities
Authority's supervision, as is required by law. Heavy trucks have also been
seen in the area, despite promises by Public Security Minister Shlomo
Ben-Ami that such vehicles would not be allowed into the area.

A small concrete-block building with a cast-iron roof has also been built
near the eastern face of the Temple Mount. Sources suspect it is being used
for storage.

Preparatory work on the subterranean area has almost been completed, as has
the preparatory work for the large entrance that necessitated the Waqf
digging up the Temple Mount at the northern wall of Solomon's Stables.

Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Haim Ramon met over the weekend with
Antiquities Department head Amir Drori, Jerusalem Police Commander Yair
Yitzhaki and representatives of the Attorney General's Office and the
police's legal adviser to discuss the work. The possibility of adopting a
protocol for dealing with the Waqf, one that is not coordinated with the
Antiquities Authority, was discussed, as was the drawing of "red lines" that
Israel will not allow the Waqf to cross. The Waqf currently wishes to
commence other construction work on the holy site, and this issue was also
raised at the meeting.

Ramon will meet today with representatives from a new nonpolitical public
organization that seeks to put an end to the destruction of antiques buried
in the Temple Mount. Its supporters published an open letter to the prime
minister on Thursday, stating that at the site, "a serious act of
irreparable archaeological vandalism and destruction is being carried out
without archaeological supervision, while abrogating the Antiquities Law and
while the Antiquities Authority remains inactive ... thousands of tons of
dirt which contain a large amount of findings dating back to the First
Temple period have been dumped at municipal dumps and other sites. This
archaeological crime in insufferable."

The letter was signed by people from all over the political spectrum,
including Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olment, former mayor Teddy Kollek, various
authors such as Haim Guri, S. Yizhar and Amos Oz, professors and winners of
the Israel Prize for Archaeology and 82 Knesset members from nearly all
Knesset factions, including the Likud, One Israel, Shas, Shinui and Meretz.

Archaeologist Ilit Mazar says that 6,000 tons of dirt and stones have been
dug out of the holy site. "Every item being destroyed there could be
incredibly important, and only professional archaeologists can decide what
to destroy and what not," she says.