ABSTRACT

In 2004 the Mughrabi Bridge – used by the Police and Jewish visitors to access the Holy Mount – collapsed and was replaced by a temporary structure. Political pressures halted the plans for a permanent construction. In discussing objections to the plans, the Supreme Court stated that a general master plan is necessary before any construction in the entire Plaza. The responsible bodies rushed to hire architect Gavriel Kertesz, without an architectural competition, analysis of alternatives or letting the public take part. Kertesz handed a plan for digging the entire Plaza to the level of the Roman Cardo, covering it by a concrete roof resting on hundreds of pillars, and using the euphemistically called ‘archaeological level’ for facilities, movement and stay of visitors. Without waiting for Kertesz, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation and the IAA agreed about a ‘pilot’ of 600 square metres in the Plaza, first inserting pillars into the archaeology and constructing a roof, than digging underneath. They were going to implement in a ‘piecemeal’ fashion the ‘general’ plan, thus emptying it of essence. To limit objections, an IAA official suggested to mislead the public by declaring that the pilot is salvage work, necessary for the ‘restoration’ of the Plaza. The Kertesz plan means a large-scale removal of remains, especially the ‘late’ (read Islamic) remains. It contradicts accepted norms in the field of heritage (the World Heritage Sites, the Quebec 2008 document), which call for in situ preservation, protection from damaging new construction and consideration of public opinion and all associated stakeholders and communities.