Hamodia 5773 (“Discovering the Land – The Kosel Tunnels Part IV” by Vardah Littman, Hamodia C5, Teves 5773), with highlighting:
Text:
In the 19th century, when the foundation for the Convent of the Sisters of Zion was being dug… Only the northern side of the Struthion Pool can be seen, as going into the convent causes halachic problems… In September 1996, the exit through a small tunnel leading up to the Via Dolorosa was opened…
Days of violence followed, sparked by angry Palestinians claiming that this change in the Tunnels had involved excavating under the Dome of the Rock. Tragically, many people on both sides died because of this lie.
The Tunnels are not located under the Temple Mount or any other site Muslims consider theirs.
As one leaves the dark developing calm of the Kosel Tunnels, one exits through the modern turnstile—so out of place among the history-laden ancient stones.
At this point, take a moment to consider the miracle of the survival of the Western Wall, the place about which Hashem promised that His Shechinah will always reside.
Angry comments:
1. Why are the terms of the Cursedian idolaters used uncritically?
2. Notice the intransitive nature of the “following” violence (and how antiseptic!). No clues about who or whom. Might as well read the NYT!
3. And what are “Palestinians”? Isn’t that nation long extinct? Why seek to flatter them? Don’t they claim the Kosel is all theirs, too?!
4. Arab marauders’ deaths are “tragic” and equivalent to innocent Jewish lives?! The Arab anger justified?
5. The obvious conclusion the paper hopes to avoid is this: “In for a penny, in for a pound.” If the enemy is killing us for lies, we may as well go build the Holy Temple for real! We’re also angry!
6. Hamodia apparently prefers anything but the Kosel plaza and tunnels to remain dead and ancient history until Mashiach.
7. Chazal spoke of another Western Wall.
I want to believe the bylined author did not herself author the final draft, but it was copied to her blog (with minor changes), where you can find all series installments on the Kosel Tunnels (I didn’t read the rest).