The National Council of Young Israel, representing more than of 150 synagogues in the United States and Canada, has written Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, "We must state our outrage at the Israeli government's decision to allow the Waqf to dig on the Temple Mount, destroying what appear to be remnants of a wall built during the second Temple period."

Young Israel noted that the Muslim authority has shown a "brazen disregard for history and the significance of the site for Jews the world over [and] has already allowed for the destruction of artifacts... It is incomprehensible that the State of Israel would allow for a non-Jewish religious entity that denies the very existence of the two Temples-to be entrusted with digging on the Temple Mount. Such inconsistent and distorted principles signify a lack of sensitivity towards our own land and history."

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has not commented on the destruction, and most Israel media have virtually ignored the issue. Headlining the Temple Mount construction and the removal of remnants of the Holy Temple could arouse coalition partners to leave the government and force new elections.