(6 Feb 2007)

1. Wide (left to right) from Old City in Jerusalem to construction site of Mughrabi Gate excavation site
2. Mid of construction site with sign reading: (Hebrew) Antiquities Authority Archaeological Excavation
3. Wide of Mughrabi Gate with the Western Wall and Temple Mount in the background
4. Zoom out from tourists walking near to excavation site
5. Mid of workers at excavations site carrying boxes
6. Close-up of workers digging
7. Mid of people walking past Mughrabi Gate
8. Set-up shot for Jerusalem district archaeologist and Antiquity Authority official, Yuval Baruch
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yuval Baruch, Jerusalem district archaeologist and Antiquity Authority official:
"Three years ago the bridge, or the road, collapsed after the rain, the weather attack, and we have to make a new way to lead the tourists and other people into the Temple Mount. That's the reason we need to do something here, to rehabilitate this Mughrabi bridge. And we know all the sensitivities."
10. Wide of Mughrabi Gate with Temple Mount in background
11. Mid of Al Aqsa mosque minaret
12. SOUNDBITE: (English) Yuval Baruch, Jerusalem district archaeologist and Antiquity Authority official:
"I don't know if it's a political issue, I really don't know. You have to understand. The people understand why the Waqf (Islamic endowment devoted to buildings of religious significance) and other people say things against this project. We are talking about archaeology, about uncovering ruins, uncovering history. It doesn't matter if it's Christian history, Jewish history or Muslim history. In this area there are a lot of historic Muslim ruins."
13. End of Baruch talking on mobile phone
14. Pan right Mughrabi Gate with Western Wall and Temple Mount in background to a TV crew working with Al Aqsa Mosque in background

STORYLINE:

An archaeological dig in Jerusalem's Old City has became a poignant reminder of the fragile relationship between Israel and the Palestinian people, as both peoples continue to claim the site as sacred to their own faith.

The dig, a few waterlogged sandbags and black buckets of earth behind aluminium walls, is meant to prepare the way for a new pedestrian walkway up to one of the world's most contentious holy sites, the compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

Though archaeologists insist there is no danger to the walled compound, it inflamed Muslim fears that Israel was planning to damage Islamic holy sites and briefly caused rival Palestinian factions to put aside their differences and condemn Israel together.

The new walkway is supposed to replace an unsafe old ramp that partially collapsed in a snowstorm three years ago.

But even minor maintenance can have deep implications in Jerusalem.

"Three years ago the bridge collapsed after the rain and we have to make a new way to lead the tourists and other people into the Temple Mount," said Jerusalem district archaeologist, Yuval Baruch.

For Palestinians, no symbol is more emotive than the Noble Sanctuary, where Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven in a night-time journey recounted in the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

The compound houses Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock shrine.

Jews revere the compound as the site of their two ancient temples.

On Monday, the high compound was placid and nearly empty amid talks of discontent from the Waqf (Islamic endowment organisation devoted to buildings of religious significance) which said the new walkway could damage the original ramp up to the compound's Mughrabi Gate.






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