Risk of collapse at Western Wall
Following report of risk of collapse, Western Wall authorities plan
to demolish Mugrabi hill Jews' only entrance to the Temple Mount,
meaning Jews can no longer enter site
Chaim Levinson
Published: 01.02.07, 22:02
Within the next few days, the Western Wall authorities will begin
demolishing Mugrabi hill, after it was discovered that the dirt
paving beneath it was at risk of collapsing, along with the
temporary wooden bridge that was built at the site.
Mugrabi Gate is the only opening through which Jews may go up the
hill, and destroying the hill will prevent this as well.
The dirt paving in the Western Wall's square, the Mugrabi hill,
leads to the Mugrabi Gate, one of the Temple Mount's
entrances.
This is the only Gate which is under complete Israeli control,
without Wakf supervision. Therefore, the paving is used by Jews as
a crossing to reach the Mount.
This is also where police prepare to break into the Mount on
Friday's incase stones are thrown towards the Wall.
'Worshippers' safety in danger'
Three years ago, a part of the hill collapsed in a snow storm and
in its place a temporary wooden bridge was constructed.
In the long term plans, the government and the Western Wall
Heritage Foundation plan to construct a permanent bridge. According
to the plan, an aerial bridge will be constructed which will begin
from the outside of the square.
It should be noted that the Western Wall Heritage Foundation works
under the guidelines of the Chief Rabbinate, according to which
going up to the Temple Mount is forbidden by the Halacha (Jewish
law).
Therefore, the WWHF is not interested in building this bridge, but
is going forward with the plans according to the police's security
demands.
In recent days, engineer Ofer Cohen submitted his professional
opinion that the danger is immediate: "In the existing situation,
after large amounts of rain, another collapse could occur, which
may endanger the stability of the temporary bridge and the safety
of the worshippers in the square."
This means that by the next storm, there may be no choice but to
begin work on demolishing the paving before it collapses on
worshipers.
The Western Wall's rabbi, Shmuel Ravinovitch, said that "the police
must decide if they want to build a bridge or not. If they do not,
we will take down the mound and expand the ladies section. If they
do, they should act in order to advance the plans of building a
permanent bridge."