Excavation of AL AQSA
13 February, 2007
Apparently bowing to the strong protest lodged by the international community, especially the Muslim countries, Israel has stopped the excavations near Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam`s third holiest site.
Earlier, the Israeli premier had spurned the appeals, including one made by Israel`s defence minister to halt the work.
The excavations, which Israel says aim to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex also sacred to Jews, have angered Muslims who fear the work can damage the foundations of the 1400-year-old Al-Aqsa.
On the other hand, the Arab League had warned that the excavations could hurt efforts to revive the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
It also stressed that the sacredness of the site makes any movement inside or around it a very sensitive issue for Arab and Muslim people, in a way that could cause the situation to explode.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert claimed that a thorough examination of the matter revealed that nothing about the work underway will harm anyone, and there is no truth in the contentions against the work. Whereas, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem,
Shaikh Salah disclosed that the Israelis are building a synagogue 97 meters away from the Dome of Rock as part of the
ongoing excavation work.
Here are some questions
1) What do you suggest that why has Israel started and later stopped excavation?
2) Was it an attempt to judge the Muslim countries reaction in case of complete demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque?
3) Has Israel actually stopped excavation of the Mosque on the pressure of Muslim countries?
4) Has America played any role to stop Israel from excavation?
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