BICOM

According to an article in Haaretz today, the Jerusalem Development Authority has recently removed scaffolding from under an arch supporting Palestinian homes adjoining the Western Wall, in order to allow more space for Jewish prayer and other events. The move is being seen by the Muslim Waqf religious authorities as a violation of the status quo in the area, and they are objecting to it strongly. The Waqf specifically warned against the removal of the scaffolding in the courtyard in question, threatening a strong response.

According to the Haaretz report, members of the Ateret Cohanim organisation, a group which encourages Jewish settlement throughout the Old City of Jerusalem and in surrounding areas, have been praying regularly at the site every Friday in recent years, with no disturbances reported. The area, which is considered to be close to the ‘Holy of Holies’ on the Temple Mount (ie the holiest area in the ancient Jewish Temple) is also visited regularly by Jewish individuals and groups throughout the year. Palestinian families living above the courtyard told reporters that they had not been consulted on the removal of the scaffolding, which does not support the arch. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation said the removal was a repair project carried out jointly with the Antiquities Authority.