<p><strong>Petition to Save the Archaeological Garden at the Western Wall</strong></p><p> </p><p>Add your name to our appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the government of Israel to prevent the destruction of the Robinson's Arch archaeological garden at the foot of the Western Wall by turning it into a prayer venue.</p><p><strong>Keep the archaeological garden as a world heritage site!</strong></p><p><strong>This site, despite its small size, is an unparalleled archaeological gem!</strong></p><p>This is the only place where one can see the collapsed great stones of the wall of the Temple Mount that fell during the destruction of the Second Temple two thousand years ago. Of these original stones from the collapse, only a 20 meter long section is still visible, above the paved street that is preserved as it was in antiquity, with shops on both sides that served the pilgrims to the Temple Mount.</p><p>The garden is <strong>the crowning glory of the archaeology of Jerusalem - </strong>now it is to be turned into a prayer venue and destroyed in the process, at the expense of its unique remains.</p><p>Already now, a large section has been cut off from the northern end of the archaeological garden by the construction of areas for mixed prayer and celebrations. Already now, visitors to the garden are prevented from approaching the sizable part of the garden that provides access to the already existing area set aside for prayer. This construction has seriously damaged the appearance of the remains, since the higher prayer platform overshadows them. And this is not all: there are plans to build an additional large platform that will cover even more of the archaeological remains, including a part of the Western Wall itself and its collapsed great stones.</p><p>We understand the need to find solutions for prayer by the different streams within Judaism, <strong>but we cannot abandon the archaeological garden!</strong></p><p> </p><p> ____________________________________________________________</p><p> </p><p> February 4, 2016</p><p> </p><p><strong>Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu</strong></p><p><strong>Prime Minister of the State of Israel</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Re: </strong><strong>The danger of further severe damage to the supremely important heritage site at the foot of the Western Wall</strong></p><p> </p><p>Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu,</p><p>The archaeological garden at the foot of the southern end of the Western Wall extends at present to a length of less than 60 meters. Immediately following the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967, the area of the garden, as distinct from the area intended for prayer, was allocated for uncovering the remains of Jerusalem's past. Over the course of a decade, an excavation team under the direction of Prof. Benjamin Mazar excavated here and uncovered amazingly well-preserved and breathtaking remains from the Second Temple period, that provide a unique view of the magnificence of the city - and of its destruction in 70 CE - at this central location, at the foot of the Temple Mount.</p><p><strong>These inspiring and important remains are unparalleled. This is a Jewish world heritage site of incomparable importance.</strong></p><p>Following the High Court of Justice judgment in 2003, after a petition by the Women of the Wall, a 12-meter long section for mixed prayer adjoining the Western Wall, and right next to it, a platform for prayer and celebrations covering 500 square meters, <strong>were already built</strong> within the garden. This construction has <strong>already</strong> seriously damaged the appearance of the site, the path for visitors, and the ability to explain the site to the public. This construction must be removed, as soon as possible.</p><p>We understand the need to find solutions for prayer by the different streams within Judaism, a need which will undoubtedly only grow, but such solutions cannot be found by <strong>trampling underfoot the archaeological garden</strong>, which is <strong>the crowning glory of the archeology of Jerusalem</strong>.</p><p>If the decision to turn this location into a prayer venue is implemented, the archaeological site will suffer irreparable damage, by the structures that will cover the heart of the site and by the ongoing activity ensuing from the conducting of prayer services and celebrations.</p><p>We, who are among the senior archaeologists who engage in the research of Jerusalem, along with our colleagues, who study the history and archaeology of the Land of Israel as a whole, <strong>turn to you with the urgent plea</strong> not to turn this unique archaeological site into a prayer venue. Your intervention will prevent any further harm to the site.</p><p>The undersigned are only a representative sample of the many signatories to this letter and to the petition that will be issued to the public at large:</p><p> </p><p>Prof. Dan Bahat, former Jerusalem Regional Archaeologist</p><p>Dr. Gabriel Barkay, Jerusalem Prize laureate, Archaeology</p><p>Prof. Israel Finkelstein, member, the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities</p><p>Hillel Geva, Director, Israel Exploration Society</p><p>Prof. Amos Kloner, former Jerusalem Regional Archaeologist</p><p>Prof. Amihai Mazar, Israel Prize laureate, Archaeology</p><p>Dr. Eilat Mazar, director, archaeological excavations of the summit of the City of David and the Ophel</p><p>Prof. Ronnie Reich, current chairman, Archaeological Committee of the State of Israel</p><p>Prof. Ephraim Stern, former chairman, Archaeological Committee of the State of Israel</p><p> </p>
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