The work on the new bridge to the Temple Mount should be stopped immediately for fear of escalation and deterioration in the defense situation, Defense Minister Amir Peretz wrote Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday.

Peretz attached an opinion written by General (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the political-military bureau at the Defense Ministry. Gilad said in his letter the construction was causing considerable damage and would create foment in the Arab world, particularly at the present time, with Israel trying to initiate steps to calm things down with the Palestinians and the Arab world.

	Advertisement

Gilad noted that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh were close to an agreement in Mecca on a unity government, and that an Olmert-Abbas summit is to take place in about two weeks. He also mentioned the planned visit to the region of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Gilad also expressed concern that the project had not been coordinated with Jordan.

Peretz reportedly learned late in the day about the decision to begin work at the site. Apparently the move was not thoroughly coordinated with him.

Yesterday Olmert's military secretary, Major General Gad Shamni, and Peretz's military secretary, Brigadier General Eitan Dangot, discussed the project and Peretz's objections.

In response to Peretz's letter, the Prime Minister's Bureau said: "The letter from the defense minister was received a few minutes before your paper approached us, and we are surprised at the fact that the letter found its way to the media so quickly. The Prime Minister's Office certainly does not see itself free to share correspondence on sensitive matters with the media.

"As to the matter at hand," the response continued, "the restoration of the Mugrabi ascent after the place collapsed and was declared a dangerous structure was done in complete coordination with all parties, including foreign countries, relevant Muslim officials and international bodies. As has been explained, this work is being carried on outside the Temple Mount, and they [the repairs] do not constitute any damage to the Mount or Islamic holy places. The work is being carried out by professionals and with complete transparency, entirely for the safety of visitors to the Mount. A thorough examination of the matter would reveal that nothing about the work underway will harm anyone, and there is no truth in the contentions against the work."

The Jerusalem police and other security officials preferred that a new bridge to the Mugrabi gate not be built, but rather that the existing walkway be restored, Haaretz has learned. The police were concerned that Muslim elements in Israel and abroad would use the work at the site to stir up accusations against Israel. Only when the ostensible complexities came to light of the engineering work to restore the ramp, which had been declared a dangerous structure, and only when the Israel Antiquities Authority made clear that even rehabilitation of the old structure would entail the construction of numerous concrete supports and would also require a salvage dig, did the authorities come to terms with and agree to the need for a new bridge.

The decision-making process went on for over a year.

Haaretz also learned that the Waqf (the Muslim religious trust), which so far has not been involved in the public disturbances over the new bridge, has been fully briefed by the police on the plan now underway, although not at the level of coordination or obtaining consent.

The Waqf, as opposed to the branches of the Islamic Movement, has made do meanwhile with verbal protests against the work. An official involved in contacts said Israel is not confirming that the plans were presented to the Waqf so as not to cut off a channel of communication between the police and the Waqf that has been open for years.

Protests in the Arab world continued yesterday against work on the bridge, which is to lead to the Mugrabi Gate of the Temple Mount, and against the salvage dig by the IAA prior to construction of the bridge.

"The Islamic world's reaction to this insulting move should make the regime occupying Quds (Jerusalem) regret (its action) ... Silence over this issue is not acceptable," said Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to the state radio.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also condemned the excavation. "The nature of the Zionist regime is to ruin and cause conflict," Iran's students news agency ISNA quoted the president as saying.

The Syrians, in a statement by an "official in the Foreign Ministry," according to the official Syrian news agency, said "aggression against Al-Aqsa is a blow to the holy places of Islam" and was against the sensibilities of Muslims the world over.

Jordan's King Abdullah yesterday released an unusual statement warning Israel against damaging the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Arab news outlets yesterday still played the Temple Mount story, though to a lesser extent than on Tuesday.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said in response to the criticism that "the Temple Mount is the holiest place in the world to the Jewish people," and also that "the State of Israel will never infringe on the freedom of religion for other faiths in Jerusalem."

Livni said "irresponsible elements that know full well that there is no damage here to the holy site" were taking advantage of Israeli democracy "to fan religious feelings to make political profit."

Yesterday the police detained the head of the Islamic Movement's Northern Branch, Sheikh Raed Salah, and six of his supporters, after they came to the Old City's Dung Gate and tried to break into the excavation site near the Mugrabi Gate. A violent confrontation developed.

Police asked the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court last night to bar Salah and his supporters from the capital for 15 days. The Magistrate's Court prohibited Salah from coming within 150 meters of the Old City for the next 10 days.

In another incident, three Palestinian teens were detained after throwing stones at a bus near the Rashadiyeh school on Sultan Suleiman Street in East Jerusalem.

Police continue to maintain an expanded presence in the area of the Temple Mount and East Jerusalem.

Yesterday and today, Muslims under the age of 45 are barred from the Temple Mount, and no tourists or Jewish visitors are allowed.

Palestinian factions, among them Fatah and Hamas in Tul Karm, have called for a new intifada to protect Al-Aqsa. The Islamic Jihad announced that Qassams fired at southern Israel were a response to excavations in the Temple Mount area.

The Justice Ministry prepared yesterday to examine the legality of the work being carried out after it was reported that the IAA is carrying out a salvage dig, which does not require a permit.

An examination of the legality of the permit issued by the licensing authority for construction of a new bridge to replace the rickety wooden one over the ramp connecting the Mugrabi Gate to the Western Wall plaza has also begun, and is expected to be completed next week.

The Justice Ministry said even if it is found that the permit should not have been issued due to the existence of other plans, "there is nothing to prevent promoting a new plan." The ministry stressed that it was dealing only with legal aspects of the work," and was leaving political and public aspects to others.