Jordan wants control of Mughrabi Gate bridge

by Dan Slobodkin

Jordan wants to take over construction of the new Mughrabi Gate ramp leading from the Temple Mount to the Western Wall Plaza, but the government says Amman is seeking to take advantage of Israel’s weak position on construction in the Old City and the rest of the capital.

Jordan submitted a request to UNESCO, which is scheduled to consider it next week. The request includes details that deviate from Israel’s policy, reported Hebrew daily Maariv. The Jordanians are asking to survey the site, submit separate building plans and construct the bridge themselves.

According to diplomatic sources, Israel’s existing plan was drawn up in coordination with the Jordanians and the Waqf, but has not been published due to concerns over the Palestinian reaction.

“It seems that the government is headed down a slippery slope toward concessions on a united Jerusalem,” said Yehuda Glick, chairman of the Temple Mount Heritage Foundation.

The issue drew wide public attention when one of the supporting walls of the Mughrabi Gate ramp collapsed in 2004 and a decision was made to dismantle it. When work got under way in 2007 — including an archeological recovery dig — Arab Israelis and Palestinians launched strident protests.

Tags: Israel, Jerusalem, Jordan, Mughrabi Gate, Western Wall