Posted on February 12, 2007 - by Calvin L. Smith

A Tale of Two Excavations

Did you hear about the Jerusalem riots during Muslim prayers this Friday past? Palestinians protesting about repairs to a ramp next to the Western Wall threw stones at Israeli police, who responded with teargas and rubber bullets. What I can’t understand is why Western press coverage never compared it with – or even bothered to mention – the far more substantial works carried out on the Temple Mount several years ago by the Waqf (the Muslim administrative authority that controls the Temple Mount area, known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif), which so dismayed archaeologists and have been discussed from time to time in Biblical Archaeological Review. Therefore, given this glaring omission in how the matter was reported, I thought I’d take a moment to compare both these excavations.

The Waqf works were carried out without public consultation, or even archaeological permission, while the Israeli works on a ramp leading to the Mugrabi Gate have been subject to much national debate, official enquiry, and archaeological investigation. Meanwhile, the Waqf ploughed up a large section of the Temple Mount, while the current Mugrabi project is miniscule in comparison. Moreover, the Waqf works were far from essential; in fact, the aim was to create more mosque space. Compare this with the Mugrabi works, which are nothing more than essential repairs. Then there is the issue of Jewish and Palestinian sensitivities. Palestinians claim the Mugrabi repairs could destabilise the Al-Aqsa mosque’s foundations (some believe this is deliberately intended by the Israelis), even though the area to be repaired is 60 metres away. Compare this with the way the Waqf dug up tonnes of earth and rubble which likely contained significant archaeological data from the Second Temple period and dumped it in the Kidron Valley. (BAR comments from time to time on historically-significant items which archaeologists claim to have found while sifting through the rubble now in the Kidron). Anything associated with Israel’s ancient past in Jerusalem is of enormous emotional significance to Jews, yet Jewish sensitivities were totally ignored in this disgraceful act of archaeological vandalism. This is compared with wide Israeli press coverage, court hearings and government debate concerning the Mugrabi repairs, while Israeli politicians nervously wring their hands, fearful of what the Palestinians and other countries might say. (There was even talk of setting up a permanent webcam so those suspicious of the Mugrabi repairs could keep an eye on what was going on).

But perhaps the greatest difference between both excavations is how Palestinians and Jews have reacted to them. Whereas the Israelis were deeply unhappy with and complained bitterly about the large-scale works on the Temple Mount and the dumping of rubble in the Kidron, the Palestinians responded with fury and violence at the behest of the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. Neither is this an isolated and unique reaction, as past Palestinian violence during the Western Wall tunnel excavations and other digs testify.

Why are Israeli archaeological excavations in the vicinity met with such anger among Palestinians and the Arab world? During his analysis of Friday’s events a BBC reporter explained how, when he brought up the issue of the Israeli repairs and asked what was wrong with them, a Palestinian colleague screamed at him, “It’s all about control”. Now it is true that the new ramp will replace the current temporary (and unstable) wood structure that leads to the Mugrabi Gate. This current wood ramp (and the stone ramp before it which collapsed several years ago) is used by Israeli police to enter the Temple Mount area when, from time to time, Palestinians throw stones over the Western Wall onto the Jewish worshippers below. So in this respect, yes, the repaired ramp will help to ensure law and order. (Of course, if the stone throwing stopped, the ramp would not need to be used for this purpose). 

But the BBC reporter’s (and presumably Palestinian) belief that Israeli works in the Old City, and especially around the Temple Mount, are meant as an instrument of control to cement Jewish rule over the Old City, is pure nonsense. If this was the case, why does Israel permit the Waqf to control the Temple Mount, administer its own affairs, and do as it pleases, even engaging in archaeological vandalism from time to time? When Israel captured the Old City in 1967 it could easily have taken full control of the Temple Mount for good, but it chose not to.  Meanwhile, in recent years the Israeli authorities have relinquished time and time again, so that even when a bulge appeared several years ago on the southern retaining wall of the Temple Mount area, the Israelis did not intervene, instead allowing Jordanian engineers to examine and repair the damage. Also at this time there is serious talk about a new minaret being built on the Temple Mount area, financed by the King of Jordan. Regrading the Mugrabi repairs, after Friday’s riots the Israelis have caved in and put the work on hold. Preparatory excavation will continue, but the main bulk of the works is now subject to yet more public consultation.

No, if the issue is one of control, I suggest it is all about Muslim and Palestinian attempts to exercise control over the most sacred of Jewish sites. Yet this, together with muted Israeli reaction to these events, has passed the Western media by. I wonder why.

© Calvin L. Smith 2007.

Western Wall, Jerusalem. To the right you can see the temporary wood ramp leading to the Mugrabi gate. In the top right corner the Al-Aqsa mosque is just visible, as is part of the Dome of the Rock on the left. Behind the Western Wall is the Temple Mount compound, where the trees are. In the background at the top of the picture (which faces east) is the Mount of Olives (the Kidron Valley lies between the Temple Mount and the Mount of Olives). The plaza area in front of the Wall was formerly a small valley running along the western length of the Ophel ridge (the Kidron being the valley that runs along the eastern side of Ophel). The Ophel ridge runs from south (the original city of David) to north, where the Temple Mount is located. (Photograph by Calvin Smith, copyright 2005).

Postcript: Israel Trip (November 2007)

The College has run a number of highly successful trips to Israel in the past, and is preparing to run another this year. These trips earn 20-credits towards your Certificate or Diploma (non-students are also welcome to take part), and are invaluable in demonstrating how topography, history, culture and geography aid the biblical exegete. The trip will last for a week and the preliminary dates are 24th – 31st October. We will be staying in Jerusalem again, with visits to Galielee, Tel Aviv and various significant sites. Expect to know Jerusalem well by the end of the stay.

As well as on-site discussions and seminars, there will be plenty of free time to explore by yourself. We envisage a cost of around £750, to include flights, transfers, accommodation, breakfast, evening meal, all on-site lectures, module fees and marking of assignments, travel within Israel. Costs exclude travel insurance, travel to/from UK airport, lunch, any entrance fees, and tips.  Don’t miss this unique opportunity to visit and learn about ancient and modern Israel. We need people to begin registering their interest NOW. Therefore, please email us to we can begin finalising details of the trip. (For contact details, visit www.midbible.ac.uk).

© Calvin L. Smith 2007.