Does placing of graves in Ophel affect site?

[Ron Beron]

This interesting tidbit from Israel via http://www.israelnat...33#.TuGCoVbednA

Arabs Using Their Dead to Swindle Jews Out of Historical Site

In the latest instance of illegal Arab takeover of public lands in Jerusalem, Arabs have been using the historic Ophel Corner as a cemetery.

By David Lev

First Publish: 12/8/2011, 2:30 PM

Ophel Corner

Avi Deror/Elef Milim Project/Wikipedia

In the latest instance of illegal Arab takeover of public lands in Jerusalem, observers and witnesses said that Arabs have begun moving to claim a national historic site – the Ophel Corner (Keren Ophel), along the southeast corner of the Temple Mount.

The area around the Temple Mount is all considered a national historic and heritage site. While the Western Wall is well known to all Jews as a place of prayer, and much of the Southern Wall area is currently being explored by Israeli archaeologists, few Israelis visit the eastern reaches of the Southern Wall, and the Eastern Wall itself, which extends for about 800 meters, bounded by the Ophel Road. Along the eastern side of the road is an ancient Muslim cemetery, which is gated and closed; this is the cemetery built opposite the Mercy (Golden) Gate, which according to Jewish tradition was built by Muslims to prevent the entry of the Messiah to the Temple Mount, which Jewish tradition says will be through the currently sealed Mercy Gate.

Between the road and cemetery and the Eastern Wall itself is an area of about 80 meters in width, stretching through several hundred meters along the wall. It is in this area that Muslims have in recent months been illegally burying people, in a crass attempt to turn the area into another Muslim cemetery. Dozens of funerals have already been held, and dozens of graves have been dug, meant to be used by Muslims, who have been sneaking their dead into the graves there under cover of night.

Archaeologists and activists have been demanding for months that police and the government do something about the illegal theft of the land, and last month the Knesset Control Committee discussed a report by the State Comptroller detailing this and other Arab attempts to destroy the Jewish historical connection to the Temple Mount by illegal construction and destruction. Not long ago, the report, which covers the last three years of Arab infractions, the Wakf, which controls the Temple Mount, dug up 400 tons of dirt to build a canal from the northern wall to the Al Aqsa Mosque – destroying artifacts and historical facts covering hundreds, if not thousands, of years of Jewish history, archaeologists say.

No action was taken in that case, or in any other, to restore the archaeological facts where possible, or to punish the culprits, the report said. And instead of authorizing action, the Knesset committee decided to seal the report and not release its contents to the public. In an interview, MK Roni Bar-on, chairman of the Committee, denied that refusing to release the report was a coverup, but a matter of public safety. “This is an explosive document, and does not serve the interests of those seeking the welfare of the Temple Mount,” Bar-on said.

Archaeologists say that the Ophel Corner is of extreme archaeological importance and that the Arab takeover of the site must be halted immediately. It is considered the best preserved area of the Old City area from the days of the Second Temple, as it has been relatively untouched for thousands of years. The juncture of the Southern and Eastern Walls is also the tallest section of the Walls surrounding the Temple Mount, rising 20 meters – with another 20 meters underground, with sections of the Wall dating back to the Hasmonean period. A viewing area was recently opened showing a section of the Wall dating back to the First Temple, built by King Solomon.

“The Ofel Corner is a key site for information about the early days of the Temple Mount,” says Professor Ayelet Mazar of Hebrew University. “The site tells us about the history, architecture, and topography of the area, and there are few, if any, other sites on the Mount with this kind of information. As far as I am concerned this is one of the seven wonders of the world, and we cannot lose this treasure in such a foolish manner – it would be a historical tragedy,” Mazar adds.

Activist Aryeh King, who already in 2004 filed suit with the High Court against Muslim burials at the site, plans to hold a large protest at the site in the coming weeks. “I will bring people from places like Migron, Giv'at Assaf, and other places where residents' houses are scheduled to be demolished because they were 'illegally built.' No evacuation orders have been issued for these illegally built graves, and we are going to demand that they be issued immediately,” King said, adding that “there is no reason that they cannot be moved – just like the graves in Gush Katif were moved.”

[Nevo]

I don't know what this has to do with Mormonism, but would it be possible to change the title of the thread to something less racist? A headline about Arabs "swindling" Jews doesn't sound like a very credible news source to me.

[Peppermint Patty]

I don't know what this has to do with Mormonism, but would it be possible to change the title of the thread to something less racist? A headline about Arabs "swindling" Jews doesn't sound like a very credible news source to me.

Yeah, this title makes me a little uncomfortable too.

[selek1]

And yet despite squeamishness, the title of the thread is a COMPLETELY ACCURATE SUMMARY of the facts on hand.

• Arabs- Despite their preference for the remarkably vague term "Palestinians" (which could be just as accurately applied to th citizens of Israel, as well) the perpetrators in this story are ARAB Muslims.
  
• Using Their Dead- Yep- they are illegally burying corpses in order to establish a precedent and a fraudulent claim to the land.
  
• To Swindle - yes- they are acting illegally and dishonestly to deprive the rightful owners of their property
  
• Jews- also known as the Israelis. The same people whom the perpetrators have vowed to exterminate, eradicate, and drive into the sea. The same people who are routinely subjected to mortar and rocket attacks by the perpetrators. The same people targeted by the perpetrators for terrorist bombings intended to maim and kill innocent women and children.
  
• Out of their Land- of their land. Whether one wishes to look at the legal, moral, or political precedent, the land in question belongs to ISRAEL.
  

In other words- no matter how insensitive it might be to left-.leaning sensibilities- the title of this thread is accurate and truthful.

But who knows, perhaps the Ministry of Truth will honor your demand for newspeak and either close it down or replace it with something less factually accurate but more palatable to the politically-correct and faint of heart.

I do find it interesting that there is more outrage voiced about the title of the thread than about the crime and provocation for war that it reports.....

Edited December 9, 2011 by selek1

[ERayR]

And yet despite the touchy-feely politically-correct squeamishness, the title of the thread is a COMPLETELY ACCURATE SUMMARY of the facts on hand.

Arabs- Despite their preference for the remarkably vague term Palestinians, the perpetrators in this story are ARAB Muslims.

Using Their Dead- Yep- they are illegally burying corpses in order to establish a precedent and a claim to the land.

To Swindle - yes- they are acting illegally and dishonestly to deprive the rightful owners

Jews- also known as the Israelis. The same people whom the perpetrators have vowed to exterminate, eradicate, and drive into the sea.

Out of their Land- of their land. Whether one wishes to look at the legal, moral, or political precedent, the land in question belongs to ISRAEL.

In other words- the title of this thread is accurate and truthful- no matter how insensitive it might be to left-.leaning sensibilities.

I do find it interesting that there is more outrage voiced about the title of the thread than about the crime it reports.....

But who knows, perhaps the Ministry of Truth will honor your demand for newspeak.

Perhaps in keeping with the touchy-feely political correct crowd it could be reworded.

Instead of

Arabs how about Indiginous people.

Using their dead how about interring their dearly departed

Swindle perhaps establishing their claim

Jews how about invaders

It could be presented that way but as Selek1 has pointed out it is much more accurate as it is.

[The Nehor]

I do find it interesting that there is more outrage voiced about the title of the thread than about the crime and provocation for war that it reports.....

The latter makes me glad you don't hold a position of importance in Israeli government if you are ready to pull out guns over this.

[Ron Beron]

Apparently, this thread has been restored and, therefore, let me repeat what I put on a subsequent thread...

Having noticed my previous thread on the placing of Muslim graves on the Ophel in Jerusalem was locked because it was ostensibly too political I can only state and affirm the following

1. The thread was not meant to be political, but reflected only on the archaeology of the area that was affected by such usage. While not exclusively LDS related the existence of the temple of any discoveries associated with it are of interest to LDS.

2. I apologize to anyone who took offense at the wording of the piece which was used verbatim by the news posting. On some further research I found out that the news group involved is a organization dedicated to religious Zionism. I too took some offense at the title, but decided to post it without any censorship.

3. The placing of graves on the Ophel is still the tantamount issue because it will ultimately effect the use of archaeological technique in the area and two, underlines the lack of concern by the government and antiquities branches of the Israeli government.

Therefore, if we could discuss this without getting political and please look simply at the issue of archaeology and the Bible.

And if the moderators would like to edit the title of this thread that would be more tolerant it would be appreciated.

Edited December 9, 2011 by Ron Beron