[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

Years ago Yossie Beilin proudly proclaimed that he solved all the issues
with his Palestinian pal Mahmoud Abbas with a proposal to "solve" the
conflict. His "solution" for Jerusalem was to appoint a committee to
resolve the issues.

Yes. Sounds funny in retrospect, but given that 99.99% of Israelis and
99.9999999% of Israeli politicians don't look beyond the headlines, he got a
lot of mileage with the claim that he had a "solution".

Nowadays there are all kinds of politicians with a "solution" for Jerusalem
in which the issue of sovereignty over the heart of Jerusalem is solved by
running it with - that's right - a committee.

Another joke.

So here is a simple example of how this would be a joke.

An elevator to provide handicapped access to the Western Wall from the
Jewish Quarter of the Old City is opposed by the Palestinians because it
somehow threatens the Al-Aqsa Mosque to build an elevator in the Jewish
Quarter next to the Aish Hatorah Yeshiva. That's not adjacent to the
Al-Aqsa Mosque - its way on the other side of the plaza.

So if the Arabs have a problem with building an elevator for handicapped
access in the Jewish Quarter, just imagine what would happen running the Old
City via committee.]

Report: Israel to build elevator to Western Wall
Published yesterday (updated) 16/08/2010 21:54
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=308471

JERUSALEM (Ma'an) -- Israel is planning to construct an elevator leading to
the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, Israeli media reported Monday.

The project will be proposed to planning committees that will make a final
decision on the 56-meter structure, the Israeli daily Ma'ariv reported
Tuesday.

The elevator is to be named after US businessman Baruch Klein, who will fund
the $10 million project, Ma'ariv reported.

The Al-Aqsa Foundation says the plans are a threat to the Al-Aqsa Mosque,
which is adjacent to the Western Wall.

The area is considered the third holiest in Islam and holiest in Judaism.

In a statement, the foundation said the project intended to divide the
mosque and prevent worshipers from reaching it, citing the plan as an
attempt by Israeli forces to increase the presence of Jews in the area.

The statement warned that the square in front of the wall could be used as a
base to attack the compound.

The compound is a highly sensitive area of the politically contested city.
Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon's visit to the compound,
accompanied by 1,000 guards, in September 2000 sparked a violent response
from Palestinians and was a catalyst for the Second Intifada.

On Monday, a Palestinian man stopped an Israeli settler attempting to enter
the mosque courtyard, witnesses said.

Ala Az-Zerba said his brother Ammar, who lives near the gate leading to the
mosque, held the Israeli man until police arrived to detain him. Later,
another Israeli patrol detained Ammar, who was being held at the Russian
compound, Ala added.

An Israeli police spokesman did not immediately return a phone call seeking
comment.

Israeli authorities restrict access to the compound. During the holy month
of Ramadan, these restrictions have been eased to allow Palestinian men over
the age of 50 and women aged over 45 to pray at the mosque. Married men over
45 and married women over 30 can access the site, but younger Palestinians
from the West Bank are still prohibited from entering Jerusalem.