In the interests of sanity, and particularly given the nature of some of these comments, one may only hope that man will ultimately acquire sufficient intelligence to discard the fantasies that for four-thousand years have spawned death and destruction in the name of mythical gods and religious icons.

Beyond that. Well said Jules.

Richard Crow, Warsaw, Poland

Israel authority must stop this work immediately as the potential damage to Al-Aqsa mosque if realised will bring a severe reaction from all muslims.

Baharuddin Talib, B.S.Begawan, Brunei

please note that there was a permanent walkway in that precise spot for decades - until the earthquake brought it down three years ago. The israelis are building exactly the same construction in the same spot it was always in before. Why should that be a problem? Meanwhile the Muslims are carying out unsupervise excavation and building work inside the compound, w/o any qualified engineers, and refusing to allow the Israelis in to view what they are doing. they are literally underminng a site holy to three religions, w/o any kind of blueprint or supervision. and noone, not even the Israeli government, cares.

Amanda Bradley, London, UK

it is sad that the jews dont know how to co-exist with other communities. with all the problems that the israel has created for the rest of the western world to resolve on their behalf , this is the last thing that region needs.

ambikai, kuala lumpur, malaysia

"They have been living comfortibly since anchient [sic] times."
Ah yes, except for the crusades, blood-libel, pogroms, banishment and the holocaust jews have had it pretty good since the diaspora. (note the sarcasm).

This rioting is absurd, Israel is repairing a ramp so muslims can have access to their holy sites, I would like to know what sort of rioting there would be if Israel had decided to simply remove the broken ramp and thereby hinder access to muslim holy sites.

I must agree with Tina, there was no rioting and there were no calls for the perpetrators to be "be made to regret" their actions when Joseph's tomb was destroyed.
Furthermore, most of the damage to the Temple Mount has been inflicted by the "Department of Islamic Antiquities of the Waqf " in the Stables of Solomon, damage due to their reckless excavations.

Michael, London, UK

The Israeli Min of Foriegn Affairs at www.mfa.gov.il has a webcam that shows what is actually happening.
Its nowhere near the El-Aska Mosque.
Israel is doing an excellent job in preserving a World Heritage Site and making safe the only access to non-muslims to the Temple Mount, Judiasm's most holy site.

Mike Orton, Harlech, Wales, UK

Muslim leaders need to catch a clue.

The World has changed since al-Qaeda blew up the Grand Ali Mosque.

The al-Aqsa Mosque is extraordinarily vulnerable to destruction by any number of religious extremists of many stripes, including extremist Muslims, extremist Jews, and any variety of Appocalyptic religious extremists.

Practically speaking, if al-Aqsa is destroyed, it can never be rebuilt.

These Muslim leaders ought to figure out that only by cooperation with other religious moderates can they protect the mosque.

Relying on threats of retaliation by crazed religious extremists is a program that will ensure the destruction of al-Aqsa. This course will not protect the mosque and is very, very evil.

sam, Marshall, MO

A walkway at a Mosque in Jerusalem was damaged by and earthquake and heavy snowfall a few years ago. What is the next logical step? A rational human being would say that the next logical step would be to repair the walkway. So, the Israelis try to fix the walkway to repair it after the damage. Now the walkway is next to a mosque. This whole repair effort on the walkway is seen as just another excuse for Islamic violence. The great and wonderful "religion of peace" can't even sit back and watch a simple walkway being renovated without rioting.

The radical followers of this religion are threats to the peace virtually everywhere in the world. A cartoon you don't like? Riot! Repairing a walkway? Riot! A book that offends you? Death sentence!

Tony King, New York, NY

Al-Aksa mosque belongs to muslims and also the area is muslims'.Why do Jews tyrannize the peple of Islam.Why don't they know to share the world?They have been living comfortibly since anchient times.They are rich but they aren't atisfied

NİDA, DÜZCE, TURKIYE

I believe the temple of Solomon, a Jewish temple, was established on this site long before there were even Muslims. If anyone is the interloper, it is the Muslims, not the Jews.

mgray, Pontotoc, MS/USA

>>> The entire area should be cleared to make way for the third Temple

No, instead lets clear Texas of all non-Mexicans and let them establish a new homeland there.

Fundametailists like yourself Mr Schroeder are the root cause of many of the problems we face today, including 9/11.

Intolerance and fundametalism in all its forms are the real scourge od our time.

Jules, London, UK

Gee - Israel does construction NEAR a "muslim holy site" to make a safer walkway because the old one was destroyed, and Muslims riot.

Muslims purposely, willfully, and wantonly DESTROY Joseph's tomb and attempt to destroy Rachel's tomb - holy sites to Jews and Christians, and Jews and Christians denounce it - but that's it. And no violence and certainly no press coverage about the destruction.

I'm pretty tired of these muslim infants - biggest crybabies on the planet - and the pathetic media that makes their faux "Oppresion" the front page of every rag published.

Tina, New York, USA

the jews , want to live in that part of the world by paying scant regard to the sacred places of other communities who live there . is this possible?

ayala peron, manila , philippines

I agree.The extremists seem bent on bringing on the end times so i say let Israel build thier temple and lets get the end of the world over with.Its inevitable anyways.

ernest , kelowna, canada/BC

The entire area should be cleared to make way for the third Temple.

Gary Schroeder, Azle, Texas

It's find for all other Arab countries to do what's best for their interest, it's a crime for Israel to act/do the same.. In the Arab world, anything Israel is evil. Hypocrites!

Eladio, NYC, US

The Muslims are always looking for a way to attack Israel, wherever possible by lies and distortions. The building work currently taking place in Jerusalem is the removal and rebuilding of a bridge walkway up to the Temple Mount - OUTSIDE the Temple Mount itself. The bridge is rickety and dangerous - I have seen it with my own eyes. If it would, Heaven forefend, fall while people are on it, guess what? Israel would get the blame for not taking due care.

It is a fact of life that Israel is damned if she does and doubly damned if she doesn't. In this situation, she will just have to act in her own interests and damn the consequences.

Anne, Petach Tikva, Israel