Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif
Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount
The oldest standing structures in the Old City today are the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock in the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount compound. [I guess the Western Wall, described only as a "plaza", doesn't count as a 'standing structure'?] Both were built in the seventh century, apparently by the Ummayad caliph Abd Al-Malik. Most of the architecture at the site is from the Islamic periods, and the Islamic Waqf is in charge of the site. Since 1967, the place is under self-rule as a Muslim autonomy, and there is no archaeological supervision. After the Oslo accords were signed, there was a short period of cooperation between the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) and the Islamic Waqf.
In 1996, riots that erupted as a result of the opening of the tunnel connecting the Western Wall and the Via Dolorosa ended in the deaths of dozens of Israelis and Palestinians. After the riots, the IAA reduced its archaeological supervision of the Temple Mount/Haram Al-Sharif.[1] IAA officials indicate that since 1996 it has been difficult to implement this supervision. At this point the Waqf initiated various construction projects in the site, the most extensive being the clearing and renovation of the cavernous halls known as King Solomon’s Stables, which were turned into a mosque. A large opening was forged at the south-eastern end of the cavern with large-scale mechanical tools that damaged the antiquities severely. The State Comptroller’s Report of 2011 confirms failings of supervision and failure to acquire permits for development projects in the Temple Mount 2001-2007: “Significant deficiencies were found regarding supervision of most of the (development) work performed in the years under review (2001-2007). This work was not coordinated with the law-enforcement authorities in the Temple Mount and was conducted without the required license and permits.”[2]
Al-Aqsa Mosque façade
It is difficult to assess the degree of destruction undergone by the antiquities in the Temple Mount for two central reasons: one, the Islamic Waqf does not provide precise details, such as the size of excavations, their depth, or a description of the findings; the second, severe criticism of the destruction at the site accompanies the heartfelt wishes of the many who would like to see full Israeli sovereignty there [wow]. The Islamic Waqf, meanwhile, is consciously dedicated to shoring up the Islamic hold on the Temple Mount, and considerations regarding the preservation of antiquities are of secondary import.
From 2005 on, the “Temple Mount Sifting Project” has been offered nearby as a hands-on experiential activity for pupils and visitors. The initiative is supported by the Elad Organization (a settlers’ organization which also runs the Visitors Center at the Mount of Olives and the City of David archaeological site). The actual soil sifting, which uses soil thrown into the Kidron Valley during Waqf works in the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif, is not an archaeological project, and has no scientific value. This project, which purports to expose remnants from the Jewish temple or other important Jewish antiquities, sifts very little actual material, and provides no reliable information on the degree of destruction at the Temple Mount, because the soil is out of its archaeological context. The project is an example of an initiative that uses antiquities for religious, nationalistic and political interests.[3]
1. ^ G. Avni &, J. Seligman, The Temple Mount 1917-2001: documentation, research and inspection of antiquities, Jerusalem, 2001
2. ^ The state Comptroller and Ombudsman Israel report for year 2010, 2011, סוגיית העבודות בהר הבית, Pp. 1843-1844 (In Hebrew)
3. ^ Z. Zweig & G. Barkay "the Temple Mount Sifting project" New Studies on Jerusalem ,No. 12, E. Baruch, Z. Greenhut and A. Faust(ed.), 2006 (in Hebrew) and information in English at: Archaeology, Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Archaeological destruction, Israel: the Temple Mount Sifting Project Publication
I would think that Tzachi & Gaby would have something to say about those charges.
Anyway, in the Summary we can grasp their own self-perception:
...questions regarding the methodology of archaeological excavations, their scientific level and professionalism are the business of the archaeological community. But when holy sites are presented as one nation’s political asset [!], and when the antiquities are among the means used to bolster one side at the cost of the other, archaeological research is centrally important in reinforcing the chosen narrative.
The degree of suspicion, animosity and caginess in the holy sites is perhaps the highest in the Old City...independent archaeological activity, backed by a wide public of many religions, nations and sectors, can offer an alternative to a situation where archeology is held hostage in religious and political battles.
Incorporating international elements and creating inter-religious dialogue are crucial not only to defend the antiquities from physical harm, but to the give the antiquities a measure of protection from exploitation by extremists and nationalists. The remnants of the past can be used by such extremists to enflame the political conflict, or, alternatively, to present a complex and multi-cultural narrative of the past. Such a complex presentation can reinforce the role of the antiquities as a significant asset for all residents and visitors, and support the voices of moderation. In the present reality, it appears that the moderates are being drowned out.
But these Emek Shaveh people are not neutral, are extreme in their anti-Zionist-establishmentarianism.
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