UPDATE ON MUGHRABI GATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L JERUSALEM 000367

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA FOR FRONT OFFICE; NEA/IPA FOR
WILLIAMS/SHAMPAINE/BELGRADE; NSC FOR ABRAMS/DORAN/WATERS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2017
TAGS: PREL KWBG PBTS KHUM KPAL IS
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON MUGHRABI GATE

REF: JERUSALEM 339

Classified By: Consul General Jake Walles, per reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Tourists and visitors were allowed access to the
Temple Mount/Haram a-Sharif via the Mughrabi Gate February 21
for the first time in more than two weeks. Access had been
restricted by Israeli officials following protests and
occasional violence surrounding the excavations at the
Mughrabi Gate ramp. Age restrictions on Muslim worshippers
remain in place, however, and Waqf Administrator Adnan
Husseini told ConGen that his primary concern is the
excavations at the Mughrabi Gate ramp, not access for
tourists. Israeli human rights NGO Ir Amim founder Danny
Seidemann said the excavations have revealed Byzantine
mosaics and Islamic artifacts in the areas where the support
columns for the new ramp may be placed and remains of
Mughrabi Quarter homes on the old earthen ramp.


2. (C) Comment: Excavations at the Mughrabi Gate ramp
continue to have the potential to ignite clashes.
Palestinian suspicions were fueled by February 17 Israeli
media reports on the discovery of a Muslim prayer room three
years ago when the ramp collapsed in February 2004, but which
the Israeli Antiquities Authority did not reveal until
February 16. Post has offered to facilitate discussions
between Husseini and Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski.
Husseini confirmed to poloff February 16 that he will not
meet Lupolianski or other leaders of the Jewish and Christian
communities until the excavations are halted. End Comment.

WALLES