Israelis warn Ramadan pilgrims could cause collapse of Solomon's Stab

The Independent
By Eric Silver in Jerusalem
28 September 2004


It is one of the world's most historic religious sites, holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Haram al-Sharif has for centuries been the source of countless disputes between the faiths.

Now, Israel is threatening to restrict the number of Muslims allowed to enter their third holiest shrine during Ramadan. They fear Temple Mount in Jerusalem is in danger of collapsing.

The Israelis contend that excavations over the past eight years to convert the underground Solomon's Stables into a huge mosque have undermined the 35-acre platform and could cause parts of the retaining wall to tumble into the valley below. With up to 200,000 worshippers expected to attend Friday prayers during Ramadan, which begins mid-October, it could turn into a major disaster in one of the world's most sensitive holy places. The structure was weakened further by an earthquake last February.

After appeals to the Waqf, the Islamic trust that administers the Haram, fell on deaf ears, Israel is urging King Abdullah of Jordan to intervene. A police spokesman said yesterday that Commander Ilan Franco, the Jerusalem police chief, visited Amman last week to lobby the royal court. Jordan, the traditional custodian of Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, pays the Waqf's operating budget and salaries, although the Palestinian Authority appointed the chief cleric.
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