BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- A committee within the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem has submitted plans for a new structure adjacent to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage said Saturday.
According to the foundation, the 3,700-square-meter structure will be built near the Mughrabi Gate at the site known as the Al-Buraq Square to Muslims and the Western Wall to Jews.
It will consist of five floors, two of which will be underground. “The building will serve settlers and foreign tourists who visit the square,” the foundation said in a statement.
The building, according to the report, will be located in the northern part of the square. It is designed to include a Jewish museum, lecture halls, exhibition halls, a library and archives center, and a center for information.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation said the structure would be built on Islamic and Arab ruins.
“The Israeli archeology department has been digging and excavating for about five years demolishing structures that date back to different Arab and Islamic eras,” the statement said.
The report comes as Israeli archeologists are continuing to excavate an ancient cave that runs under Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Foundation said Tuesday.
Foundation representatives visited the al-Kittan cave, also known as Zedkiah’s Cave or Solomon’s Quarries, and say archeologists are digging under the Old City in two directions to connect the cave to an ancient tunnel network.
The cave, near Damascus Gate, is being extended towards the Haram al-Sharif compound housing the Dome of the Rock and towards Herod's Gate to the east, the foundation said.
It highlighted that the route runs under Palestinian homes.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem after a 1967 war in a move never recognized abroad.
According to the foundation, the 3,700-square-meter structure will be built near the Mughrabi Gate at the site known as the Al-Buraq Square to Muslims and the Western Wall to Jews.
It will consist of five floors, two of which will be underground. “The building will serve settlers and foreign tourists who visit the square,” the foundation said in a statement.
The building, according to the report, will be located in the northern part of the square. It is designed to include a Jewish museum, lecture halls, exhibition halls, a library and archives center, and a center for information.
The Al-Aqsa Foundation said the structure would be built on Islamic and Arab ruins.
“The Israeli archeology department has been digging and excavating for about five years demolishing structures that date back to different Arab and Islamic eras,” the statement said.
The report comes as Israeli archeologists are continuing to excavate an ancient cave that runs under Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa Foundation said Tuesday.
Foundation representatives visited the al-Kittan cave, also known as Zedkiah’s Cave or Solomon’s Quarries, and say archeologists are digging under the Old City in two directions to connect the cave to an ancient tunnel network.
The cave, near Damascus Gate, is being extended towards the Haram al-Sharif compound housing the Dome of the Rock and towards Herod's Gate to the east, the foundation said.
It highlighted that the route runs under Palestinian homes.
Israel annexed East Jerusalem after a 1967 war in a move never recognized abroad.
Maan News Agency
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