The Western Wall Heritage Foundation carries out a comprehensive examination of the stability of the Western Wall stones twice a year, on the eve of Passover and the eve of Rosh Hashanah, including the area of the Wilson Arch and the wall of the Machkema building.
During the examination, the Western Wall is cleaned of various objects the birds bring and remove loose stones and plaster from between the stones. In the examination conducted this year on the eve of Passover, parts of stone and plaster were removed from the stones of the Western Wall.
The foundation notes that the lower part of the wall built of the original stones is prone to stone corrosion. This year much flaking was removed. In order to solve this, the conservationists saturate the peeling stone with natural lime (stone consolidation) bonding material. This strengthens the stone and stops the peeling.