Construction minister: Stop unauthorized Temple Mount excavations - Yori Yalon

by Yori Yalon

Minister Uri Ariel warns that ongoing renovations at the Dome of the Rock, atop the ruins of the Second Temple, may inflict irreparable harm to Judaism's holiest site • Ariel says crews flouting the prohibition on operating heavy machinery in the area.

 

Temple Mount renovations have stirred controversy as of late, prompting one minister to call for an immediate halt | Photo credit: Rafael Ben Ari i

Construction Minister Uri Ariel (Habayit Hayehudi) sounded the alarm on Monday after the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf began earthworks on the Temple Mount, saying this could inflict irreparable harm on Second Temple artifacts. 

The Waqf, which has day-to-day control of Temple Mount, said it planned to recarpet the Muslim shrine known as Dome of the Rock but Ariel fears the activity would result in excessive excavation. This concern was exacerbated by the fact that heavy machinery was being used. 

In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ariel asked that the government "order an immediate halt to the earthworks to allow a proper review and authorization process." Ariel further wrote that he was making an "urgent appeal because this morning [Monday] the Waqf began a renovation project at the Dome of the Rock, the site of the Temple, and this includes reflooring and potentially additional activities whose nature are unknown, all the while using heavy equipment.

"These works are unprecedented and warrant the review of the Ministerial Committee on 

Archeological Digs at Holy Sites, and the fact that there is heavy machinery involved makes this all the more pressing," Ariel continued. He added that "the State Comptroller's Office report has already faulted the Waqf for carrying out unauthorized construction that was in violation of the law, flouting the prohibition on operating heavy machinery on the Temple Mount." Ariel lamented that the latest earthworks show that "this behavior is once again on display.

"There is no need to elaborate on how important this site is, where every modification, every excavation with heavy equipment can cause irreparable harm to the foundations of the Temple," Ariel wrote. "Likewise, there is no need to elaborate on how this violates the law and the sovereignty of the state, making it look as if Israel has no jurisdiction there. I would ask that you instruct the Israel Police to prevent any further activity on the site."

Yori Yalon

Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=24813

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