Walls of Jerusalem's Old City in
danger of collapse
November 18, 2005
JERUSALEM (AFP) - Large sections of the
16th century walls surrounding Jerusalem's Old City are in danger of collapse
unless they undergo immediate restoration.
According to an engineering survey conducted by the Israeli Antiquities
Authority, 380 metres (yards), or one-tenth, of the walls' extension are in
immediate danger of collapse, Israeli newspaper Maariv reported on Friday.
The survey showed 11 sections of the stone wall needing attention, most of
them located along the northern stretch, which flanks the Muslim quarter, and
the southern stretch, which skirts the Jewish quarter.
The area in most need of work is the section which flanks the southern
supporting wall of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, the third holiest site in
Islam.
The site also houses the ruins of the ancient
Jewish temple, the most sacred spot in Judaism, which was destroyed by the
Romans in 70 AD.
Israeli authorities have repeatedly called
attention to a bulge in the southern supporting wall of the Al-Aqsa Mosque
compound, provoking tensions between the Jewish and Muslim communities.
"The examination shows that the signs of
cracking and crumbling, which are evidence of structural problems, have
increased and become more widespread," the report said. "New
cracks were also revealed in the southern wall (of the mosque compound),
which shows evidence of movement in the entire wall."
Another 29 sections of the wall, extending a
total of 1,280 metres, are also in danger of collapse, but the threat is not
quite so imminent, the report said.
The Old City is divided culturally and
historically into four parts -- the Jewish, Armenian, Christian and Muslim
quarters.
Built by Suleiman the Magnificent between
1536-1541, the Old City walls stretch a total length of 3.8 kilometres (2.3
miles).
Seven gates in the wall lead into the Old City
-- Jaffa, Damascus, Herod's, Zion, Dung, Lion's and New gates. An eighth,
the Golden Gate, is sealed off.
SOURCE: Netflix
