The furor surrounding the replacement of a collapsed ramp to the Temple Mount has left us at Zionism On The Web rather puzzled. The information from campaign against Israel over the replacement of this ramp bears so little resemblence to the facts that we're left wonder if it is worth responding, or if people will just work it out for themselves.

Unlike much historical misinformation, this is a current event and the facts can be very easily checked. Given this, why launch an anti-Israel campaign based on lies that as so easily proven as lies?

If the ramp were not replaced, non Muslims would no longer have access to the Temple Mount and Dome of the rock. Or rather, so long as no one wants to challenge the current agreement that all other access points are reseved for Muslims only, only Muslims could enter the Temple Mount / Dome of the Rock. This leads up to conclude that EITHER those pushing this campaign were hoping to spark a dispute with Israel over allowing non Muslims in via another gate, or they were hoping to quietly prevent non Muslims entering the Temple Mount area at all. It is this second possibly motive that causes concern. There have been serrious accusation of the destruction of artifacts at the Temple Mount. The Muslim authorities not only try an deny the existance of the Jewish Temple (a well documented historical fact) but also regularly work to remove and destroy archaeological evidence of the first and second temple.

In contrast the Israeli government insists that work in historical sites (such as this bridge reconstruction) included "emergency archaeological work" that is work aimed at ensuring any artifacts are removed, catalogued and properly handled. Similar laws exist in other countries, e.g. the UK.

In the case of the bridge this is being taken even further and video cameras have been installed to enable on-line viewing of the construction process, and basically provide total public scrutiny.

Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) Mugrabi Gate Reconstruction Project's online cameras are due to go online tomorrow afternoon (Thursday), 15.2.07, on the IAA website/

The website also has a video about the Project with an English explanation by IAA Director of Surveys and Excavations Dr. Gideon Avni and two articles under the heading "The Real Story Behind the Mugrabi Ramp."

Well worth a look for everyone that is as confused over all the fuss as we are.