CAIRO: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has postponed the demolition of a bridge that gives access to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque due to “pressure from the Arab Spring,” Israeli paper Haaretz wrote Sunday. Quoting a senior Israeli official, Haaretz wrote that the demolition of the bridge was planned for a 72-hour period beginning Saturday night. However, Netanyahu's bureau asked the Jerusalem municipality to postpone the work for one week due to the sensitivity of the issue and warnings from Egypt that the action would focus protests against Israel in Cairo's Tahrir Square. Similar warnings of serious repercussions if the demolitions should take place were heard from Jordan. Plans for the reconstructions of the wooden bridge are not new, as several excavations have been undertaken around Temple Mount since Israel seized control of the old city of Jerusalem in 1967. In 2007, Israel began digging outside the Mughrabi Gate, claiming that it was repairing the old ramp. Criticism from the international community was fierce. Saying that Israel was intending to destroy the foundations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Arab state leaders asked the international community to react against what they dubbed “Israel's clear intention to Judaize Jerusalem.” In the 30th Session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee, it was reported that the committee: “…reiterates its concern as to the obstacles and practices, such as archaeological excavations or new constructions, which could alter the outstanding universal value of the cultural heritage of the Old City of Jerusalem, including its urban and social fabric as well as its visual integrity.” At present, the demolition plans include the construction of a new ramp to the mosque. On October 24, Israel's Jerusalem municipality said it needed to demolish and replace the bridge within 30 days due to danger of collapse or fire. However, an evaluation earlier this year from the Israeli Public Security Ministry said the bridge presented no danger. Reacting to this, Palestinians officials have likewise called for a halt to the demolition of the bridge, which is considered a major Islamic historic and religious site. Meanwhile, the subject of protecting the Al-Aqsa mosque and Jerusalem has become a major topic in Egyptian elections. The Muslim Brotherhood has been heavily emphasizing the importance of Al-Aqsa, which holds an iconic status for most Muslim countries, and to which rhetoric of working for the common good of the Muslim community is heavily connected. Islamic factions and the political wing of the Islamic Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party (JFP), are expected to have a major win in today's lower house parliamentary elections. Up until elections this Monday, supporters as well as opponents to the Brotherhood have been disappointed with its approach, which they experienced as being clearly populist. “The people think it is way too easy to refer to Al Aqsa and the savior of the Muslim Umma when wanting to gain votes,” one young man from Cairo commented to BikyaMasr.com. On the net, criticism was equally fierce. “So MB is fine seeing Egyptian bodies dragged into dumpsters, does nothing so as not to endanger elections, but wants to free Aqsa in tahrir?” Twitter blogger Radwan asked on Friday, as the Brotherhood staged a demonstration at Cairo's al-Azhar mosque on Friday, calling for the “liberation” of Jerusalem from Israeli control. During this week of severe violent unrest in Egypt and the horrifying killing of a great number of activists, the Brotherhood has been slammed by opponents. Staying on the sideline of the protests, the Brotherhood has been focusing too singled-mindedly on parliamentary elections happening on Monday, they say. A former member of the Brotherhood Abdel-Jalil el-Sharnoubi, who administered the group's homepage until he quit earlier this year in frustration over the leadership, added to the critique. By staying out of the protests, “the Brotherhood has made it clear that they want elections because they want the seat of power, no matter what that seat looks like,” he said. BM
