Wednesday, February 27, 2008
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs has published a piece by Nadav Shragai detailing some of the destruction wrought underground by the Waqf responsible for things on the Temple Mount -- illustrative of Islam's respect for the traditions and sensitivities of other "People of the Book" -- as well as what the Israeli authorities are, or more precisely, are not, doing about it: The Latest Damage to Antiquities on the Temple Mount
Quoting "a high-ranking officer in the police":
On the Temple Mount there is a delicate relationship between the Waqf and other groups, on the one hand, and the State of Israel, on the other. It is a give and take situation, carrot and stick. As far as the Antiquities Law is concerned, sometimes we prefer to settle things quietly with Islamic groups through private arrangements that remain private. We pay a price for that, sometimes a high one. It is a known fact that antiquities are being damaged on the Temple Mount. The alternative is a riot every other day. Those in authority have to decide what they prefer, and we prefer quiet because, with all due respect to the antiquities, the top priority of the State of Israel on the Temple Mount is quiet, not riots, even if the antiquities pay the price. In theory, the laws of Israel govern the Temple Mount, but in reality, the various authorities are careful in their enforcement because religiously it is a very sensitive location.
