The Jerusalem Municipality has instructed the Kotel Heritage Foundation to remove the wooden walk bridge to the Mughrabi Gate of Har HaBayis within 30 days, explaining its wooden design presents a major hazard.

City engineer Shlomo Eshkol made the announcement on Tuesday morning, 27 Tishrei, setting down the 30-day deadline before moving ahead via legal channels.

Foundation officials and Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, the state-appointed rav of the Kotel and holy sites have responded by stating they will move the paperwork along to the appropriate parties.

The media is already engaged in speculation and predictions, well aware of the sensitive nature of the bridge and anything connected to Har HaBayis. Such issues automatically involve Israeli government officials, Jordan, the PA (Palestinian Authority) and the international Islamic community, and this matter will undoubtedly present a formidable challenge to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s administration as well as to the administration of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)