MORE ON THE TEMPLE MOUNT RAMP COLLAPSE:

Ramp Collapse Foreshadows Greater Temple Mount Disaster (Cybercast News Service)

[...]

During the last few years, the WAKF Islamic Religious Authorities on the Temple Mount have carried out major renovations on an underground mosque there, which some say is the now the largest mosque in the Middle East.

By law, the Antiquities Authority must be consulted before any construction is undertaken in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Although the Islamic authorities had permission to enlarge an underground exit from the mosque, they reportedly carried out a massive enlargement project of an underground mosque. The Antiquities Authority reportedly was not allowed into the site.

According to [archaeologist Eilat] Mazar, some 20,000 tons of archeological materials and fill were removed from compound. In addition to the lost archeological treasures ("for eternity to weep over," she said), engineering-wise, it is a "disaster."

A direct outcome of the renovations and construction, Mazar said, is a bulge in southern wall of the Temple Mount, which forms one of the outside walls of the Old City.

[...]

Israeli analysts also warned that Israel could be in trouble either way. If the wall collapsed, Israel would be blamed; and if Israel tried to fix the wall, it would be accused of tampering with an Islamic religious site. Both scenarios could bring the wrath of the Islamic world down on Israel, analysts said.

[...]

[Osnat] Goaz [spokeswoman for the Israel Antiquities Authority] said that the Antiquities Authority knows what is going on in the area of the Temple Mount as it does at all antiquities sites around the country and is in touch with all the relevant authorities that deal with the place.

However, she would not say if the Islamic religious authorities were among those with whom the Antiquities Authority deals, nor would she say if the authority has freedom to deal with problems on the Temple Mount.

The Temple Mount is the only antiquity in Israel about which the Antiquities Authority is so guarded in its responses.

[...]

Meanwhile the "rabbi of the Western Wall" (I didn't know there was one) disagrees with Mazar, according to Ha'aretz:

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitz criticized Mazar and said her statement was "groundless" and "irresponsible," and could give the impression that the Western Wall plaza was a dangerous place.

"This is groundless. After the quake, they inspected the Temple Mount area and walls with a laser, except for the Mugrabi embankment, which really collapsed," the rabbi said.

"Only yesterday, I received a report stating that the earthquake had had no effect on the wall's stability. We check the stones' stability every three months. There is a safety committee," he added.

And, according to the BBC, Hamas is foaming at the mouth:

Israeli engineers have suggested heavy snowfall and a small earthquake last week might have destabilised the embankment, causing the wall to collapse.

Hamas said the wall fell down because Israel had tried to undermine the foundations of the al-Aqsa mosque, which is situated in the compound.

"We warn the leadership of the enemy that the reaction of Palestinian resistance to the continued plans to destroy al-Aqsa mosque will be beyond their imagination and will topple the situation on their heads," Hamas said in a statement.

Israel has been carrying out archaeological excavations in an area outside the compound, inviting the charge that they are trying to destabilise the mosque, Islam's third holiest site. Israel has strongly denied the allegation.

Israeli officials have said the Palestinians' Waqf authority - which looks after the compound - might have weakened the area by carrying out unauthorised underground work in the compound.