By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
Sep 26, 2004
The collapse of major sections of Jerusalem’s Temple Mount is inevitable, and will likely occur during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins in just three weeks, archeological and defense officials said Sunday.
Israel is fervently trying to convince the Muslim authorities atop the Mount of the danger of allowing thousands of worshippers to enter potentially unstable sections of the compound, knowing that any collapse would be blamed on the Jews.
Their warnings have fallen on deaf ears, with the PA-appointed Islamic clerics insisting the entire episode is merely an Israeli ploy to regain control over Judaism’s holiest site.
Unilateral action by Israel to head off a catastrophe by denying access to the Temple Mount would likely result in widespread Arab riots, while the death of thousands of Muslims in the compound’s collapse could spark regional war.
Inevitable collapse
Israel Radio quoted defense establishment sources as saying ongoing illegal Muslim construction atop the Temple Mount, coupled with recent earthquakes, had severely weakened the area known as Solomon’s Stables at the southern end of the compound.
Officials with the Antiquities Authority concurred, saying a “collapse of the building’s roof and walls is almost certain,” according to Ha’aretz .
The start of Ramadan typically sees up to 300,000 Arab Muslims ascend the Temple Mount to pray to their god, Allah.
Officials fear the weight of the gathering will result in a catastrophic collapse, killing thousands and possibly doing great damage to the Al Aqsa Mosque, which sits atop the massive underground corridors that make up Solomon’s Stables.
Unheeded warning
Israel has warned the Islamic Trust (Waqf) that oversees the Temple Mount of the impending danger and insisted that access to potentially unstable areas be denied.
Jerusalem is also urging Jordan, which administered the site until the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993, to help pressure the current PA-appointed Muslim authorities.
Waqf officials, however, accused Israel of plotting to grab control of the Temple Mount and dismissed the warnings as unfounded.
Many believe the Waqf in fact wants a collapse to occur in order to use it as a catalyst for a unified Muslim front against the Jewish state.
Waqf clerics typically use their Friday sermons to demonize Israel and urge Arab violence against its citizens.
What to do?
Israel’s leaders have found themselves in a tricky situation, knowing that a deadly collapse of the Temple Mount could potentially spark a regional war.
They also know, however, that taking unilateral action to prevent such a catastrophe by limiting access to the Temple Mount during Ramadan would lead to widespread Muslim riots.
Despite the risks, the Jewish state appeared determined to protect the lives of its declared Islamic enemies.
"We won't have any choice but to reduce the number of worshippers on the Temple Mount” if the Waqf continues to ignore the warnings, Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra told Israel Radio.
"I think that people will understand the issue. We have no intention of preventing worshippers from getting to the Temple Mount,” Ezra added.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has instructed the defense establishment to begin making preparations to prevent a mass disaster.