Waqf Damage Called \"Irreversible\"

An internal document in the Antiquities Authority admits, for the first time, that the Moslem Waqf has caused significant archaeological damage to the Temple Mount in the course of its illegal excavations. In contrast to its attitude of indifference of the past few months, it now decries the fact that since last October it has had no way of supervising the construction there, and must rely only on police reports for its information. For instance, at a tense session of the Knesset Education Committee in July 2000, Dr. Shmuel Berkowitz, head of a citizens\' committee, challenged Antiquities Authority head Amir Drori\'s claims that the Authority was conducting regular inspections of Moslem activities on the Mount. The memorandum states that in February of this year, the Moslems renewed construction in the Solomon\'s Stables area of the Mount, dismantled ancient walls there, and removed ancient layers, preventing their study.