Western Wall Tunnel

Israel continues to maintain a total and wholehearted commitment to the peace process, and as such has undertaken the following steps:

High level meetings have taken place between Prime Minister Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Levy, Defence Minister Mordekhai and the Chairman of the Palestinian Council Yasser Arafat.

Together with the Palestinians we have set up a common agenda in order to complete the implementation of the Interim Agreement.

We have relaxed certain aspects of the closure and increased the number of entry permits issued to workers so that the various economic hardships which befell the Palestinians could be alleviated.

Israel has formed, together with the Palestinians, a high level steering committee which will work to resolve the outstanding issues between the two sides.

However, he attempt to create an atmosphere of political pressure upon Israel, together with threats to end the normalization process between Israel and Arab states, does not serve the interest of peace in the Middle East. This message has been made clear to Syria, Egypt and the Palestinian Council. It is unacceptable that, even prior to dialogue, negotiations or talks, our interlocutors should engage in such tactics.

Regarding the opening of the Western Wall, the following points should be noted:

1. The restoration of the Western Wall Tunnel was undertaken as part of an ongoing effort by Israel both to reveal major archeological finds in Jerusalem and to improve the tourism infrastructure in the Old City.

2. The tunnel itself, which dates from ancient times, allows pedestrians to enter one of the oldest subterranean paths in Jerusalem from the Western Wall plaza and exit onto the Via Dolorosa. It must be emphasized that no part of the tunnel runs underneath the Temple Mount.

3. The tunnel was re-excavated under the supervision of archaeologists and engineers. No archeological or religious sites were damaged in its construction.

4. The tunnel's restoration does not endanger any buildings or other structures in the Old City.

5. No private property was expropriated, condemned or otherwise confiscated in order to accomplish this project.

6. The restoration of the tunnel does not violate the Interim Agreement between Israel and the Palestinians as archeological restorations in Jerusalem are not covered by the document.

7. The opening of the tunnel will increase the access by tourists to the Via Dolorosa from the Western Wall plaza - thereby benefiting merchants in the Moslem Quarter.

We therefore view the recent incidents which accompanied the opening of the new entrance to the Western Wall tunnel as part of an ongoing campaign to reap political profit by pressuring Israel to adopt certain positions even before the issues themselves have come up for negotiation. Since the inauguration of Israel's new government we have witnessed the Cairo summit, meetings of Arab foreign ministers, increased tensions on our northern border and lastly the contemptuous characterizations of our Prime Minister by senior Egyptian officials and ministers. For all of these reasons it seems readily apparent that the current outbreak of violence is a calculated maneuver to achieve certain political advantages before the resumption of negotiations and not a spontaneous occurrence engendered by the opening of the entrance to the tunnel.

Despite the recent rhetorical escalation and unfortunate, violent events, Israel continues to stand by its commitment to the peace process as detailed in this document.