Bridge Over Troubled Water - Editorial
Palestinian leaders, whether from Fatah or Hamas, have been keen to find an excuse to divert attention from their internal problems. So it is not surprising that many have jumped on Israel's reconstruction of an access bridge to Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
The truth, of course, is that the bridge is simply a pedestrian walkway replacing the stone ramp leading up to the Mughrabi Gate that partially collapsed in a storm three years ago and was deemed unsafe by city engineers.
By law, the Antiquities Authority is required to carry out a salvage excavation before any construction at the site. Yuval Baruch, the authority's chief archeologist for Jerusalem, said the dig was at least 60 meters from the Mount. "We invite everyone to come see," he told Israel Radio.
Cynical appeals for a renewed intifada and violent resistance discredit the purported Palestinian moderates, who are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with extremists' efforts to whip up hostility.
(Jerusalem Post)
UPDATE: I was able to locate these detailed photos of the excavation/construction.
UPDATES:
Discovery of Mosaic Halts Work at Jerusalem Walkway - Donald Macintyre
A geometric patterned fifth or sixth century AD Byzantine mosaic fragment was exposed by archaeological workers Wednesday at the bottom of an underground shaft where one of the pillars for a walkway connecting to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is intended to go.
The Israeli authorities are arranging for webcam pictures of the dig to prove [that the dig is no danger to the Temple Mount]
(Independent-UK)
VIDEOBITE UPDATE:
Dr. Gideon Avni in a 1.5 minute video clip, shows exactly what is taking place at the Mugrabi Ramp:
http://the-american-israeli-patriot.blogspot.com/2007/02/truth-about-temple-mount-ramp.html
LINK TO A LIVE VIDEO FEED:
Live Webcam: The Excavation at the Mughrabi Ramp in Jerusalem
(Israel Antiquities Authority)
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