0:00:00 > 0:00:00- Subtitles
0:00:00 > 0:00:02- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:00:03 > 0:00:04- The Temple Mount...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08- ..is one of the holiest places - on the face of the earth.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17- For the Jew, it is the site - of the Temple of Solomon.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25- For the Christian, the location of - Herod's Temple, where Jesus walked.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33- And for every Muslim...
0:00:33 > 0:00:37- ..it is the site from where - Muhammad ascended to heaven.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50- Three faiths, each laying claim...
0:00:50 > 0:00:52- ..to this sacred mount.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56- Throughout Jerusalem's - long history...
0:00:56 > 0:01:00- ..the faithful - have always fought for possession.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08- Today, archaeologists - are embroiled in the conflict.
0:01:08 > 0:01:13- Their work holds the key to - understanding Jerusalem's history.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- A history - that could change our future.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19- That's why I've come here...
0:01:19 > 0:01:23- ..to try and discover - the truth about the Temple Mount...
0:01:24 > 0:01:27- ..and the battle - for the Holy Land of Jerusalem.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- The holy city of Jerusalem.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46- It is here that the immortal - and mortal commune and battle.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51- There is the dream of Jerusalem, - the image and the reality.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54- For over 3,000 years - it has been the site...
0:01:55 > 0:01:58- ..of constant - and continuous warfare.
0:02:00 > 0:02:06- For centuries, the Temple Mount - has been occupied by Muslims.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13- Prior to that, it was - the focal point of the Jewish faith.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23- According to the Bible, the Jews - built two temples on this site.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25- The Temple of Solomon...
0:02:25 > 0:02:28- ..and the Temple of Herod, - frequented by Jesus Christ.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36- 20 years - before the birth of Jesus...
0:02:37 > 0:02:41- ..King Herod the Great - had been restoring the temple.
0:02:47 > 0:02:49- Herod was far from being a holy man.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53- He was trying to make amends - for killing the nation's sages.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- He killed all the sages...
0:03:00 > 0:03:05- ..and as an act of remorse...
0:03:05 > 0:03:07- ..beautified the temple.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- Born out of Herod's sin and shame...
0:03:17 > 0:03:20- ..a beautiful building - was erected...
0:03:20 > 0:03:22- ..and a platform for Jesus Christ.
0:03:27 > 0:03:32- It was here that Jesus gave his - sermons and practised his teachings.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- "My house - shall be called a house of prayer...
0:03:38 > 0:03:41- "..but you make it - a den of robbers," he said.
0:03:48 > 0:03:54- Shortly after Jesus' death, - the Temple of Herod was destroyed.
0:04:11 > 0:04:16- In 70AD there was - all-out war on the Temple Mount.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20- War and merciless bloodshed.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31- After years - of trying to merge Palestine...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33- ..with the rest of its empire...
0:04:34 > 0:04:38- ..Rome eventually lost patience - with the inhabitants.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46- Initially, - the Romans burnt the Jews' food...
0:04:46 > 0:04:49- ..and brought - the city centre under siege.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59- The might of the Romans overpowered - the city's defensive walls.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- Slaying everyone in their path...
0:05:09 > 0:05:11- ..four legions entered the city.
0:05:15 > 0:05:20- They eventually advance - to the temple.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- Some of the Jews - tried to defend the sanctuary.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32- But their efforts were in vain.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- 6,000 - of Jerusalem's natives were slain.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- But Rome's intent - went much further...
0:05:50 > 0:05:53- ..than winning a battle - and occupying a city.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00- The aim was to destroy - Jewish religion and culture...
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- ..once and for all.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- After the battle...
0:06:07 > 0:06:12- ..the Roman legions dismantled - and destroyed Herod's Temple.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- Anything of value - was snatched by the conquerors.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28- They looted and stole...
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- ..before burning the structure - to the ground...
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- ..and ensuring that none - of the stones were left standing.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45- The destruction of Herod's Temple - shaped Israel's history.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51- For the Jews, - a nation without a temple...
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- ..is a nation without a heart.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- The Jews were forced - out of the Old City...
0:07:00 > 0:07:04- ..and for centuries - battles have been fought over it.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- In 187AD...
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- ..the Temple Mount became - Muslim territory under Saladin.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- The Dome of the Rock - and al-Aqsa Mosque...
0:07:22 > 0:07:24- ..stand on the Temple Mount today.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30- Muslims don't refer to the site - as the Temple Mount.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33- It is called the Noble Sanctuary.
0:07:37 > 0:07:42- Al-Aqsa is the third holiest site - in the Islamic faith.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51- Centuries of worship - have created an ambience here.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56- An ambience which acknowledges - the presence of the immortal.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10- The holy city saw another period - of change following WWII...
0:08:10 > 0:08:14- ..when the Jews returned - to establish the state of Israel.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22- There was tension between Jews - and Palestinians from the outset.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- In 1967, during the Six-Day War...
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- ..Israel - occupied the east of Israel.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- But the Temple Mount remained - in the hands of the Palestinians.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42- I think that the Temple Mount - is representing two narratives.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47- For the Palestinians, they used - to live here for hundreds of years.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- It's a religious place, - it's a holy place...
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- ..it's a very ancient place, so - that's what makes it so complicated.
0:08:55 > 0:08:57- Complicated for everybody...
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- ..including those who wanted to - investigate the site's archaeology.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10- Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of - the Rock were under Muslim control.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- Because it was their - hallowed ground...
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- ..they prohibited excavation.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24- It was impossible to search - for the ruins of Herod's Temple...
0:09:24 > 0:09:28- ..or to establish that a temple - had ever stood there...
0:09:28 > 0:09:31- ..before its destruction.
0:09:31 > 0:09:36- There was no likelihood of anyone - inspecting this hallowed ground...
0:09:36 > 0:09:38- ..or what lay beneath it...
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- ..until fate dictated otherwise.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- 10 years ago, Muslim authorities...
0:09:45 > 0:09:50- ..wanted to create an underground - passage to a mosque on the Mount.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- Tonnes of soil had to be removed.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- The authorities claimed - the soil was good for nothing...
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- ..but for one young student, - it was a treasure.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15- He set about sifting the soil.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- Despite his efforts, - there was nothing to see at first.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27- We began sifting the dirt - and we didn't find much things.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29- After two weeks of sifting...
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- ..we started - a new method of wet sifting.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38- Since then - we've been finding many finds.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42- Zweig consulted his old mentor...
0:10:42 > 0:10:44- ..Gabriel Barkay.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51- Today, the pair - welcome help from tourists...
0:10:51 > 0:10:55- ..who want to lay their hands - on the Promised Land's soil.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59- Each morning, a busload of visitors - arrives in the morning...
0:11:00 > 0:11:02- ..and another in the afternoon.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07- They are eager - to uncover remains...
0:11:08 > 0:11:11- ..that no-one has touched - since Jesus Christ's day.
0:11:14 > 0:11:19- Welcome to the sifting project - of soil from the Temple Mount.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- This picture - was taken by the police.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- You can see - the bulldozer and the truck.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30- You can see the southern wall - was excavated brutally...
0:11:30 > 0:11:32- ..by those bulldozers.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36- The material...
0:11:38 > 0:11:41- ..was dumped into the Kidron Valley.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49- The training - available here is basic.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52- You saw me - picking one of these buckets.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57- Spread the material on the tray.
0:11:59 > 0:12:00- That way.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03- And then we'll wash the mud off it.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- And that's it.
0:12:09 > 0:12:13- You can start at these stations - this side of the tent.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16- Good luck to everyone.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- The hope it to find proof...
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- ..that supports Israel's claim - to the Temple Mount.
0:12:37 > 0:12:42- People would tell me sometimes, - "Show me evidence of the temple.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45- "Show me a physical remnant."
0:12:45 > 0:12:48- You cannot - hold the rope in both hands.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52- You cannot prohibit excavations - upon the Temple Mount...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- ..and then ask me - to show you remains.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59- If you let me dig, - I'll show you the remains.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07- But Muslims believe that Barkay - is playing political games...
0:13:07 > 0:13:11- ..in order to justify ousting them - from the Temple Mount.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18- But he wants to play - by the political something.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- He wants to change - the situation of the area.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25- We are the Muslims.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32- What we believe in the Quran...
0:13:32 > 0:13:38- ..and what we believe the prophet of - Muhammad and the holy land of Islam.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43- This is a very interesting thing.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- The denial of the existence - of the temple is more serious...
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- ..than the denial of the Holocaust.
0:13:53 > 0:13:53- .
0:13:55 > 0:13:55- Subtitles
0:13:55 > 0:13:57- Subtitles- - Subtitles
0:14:00 > 0:14:04- At the holy site of the - Temple Mount here in Jerusalem...
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- ..there is a continuous - archaeological battle.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11- Israel's faithful - are trying to uncover proof...
0:14:11 > 0:14:14- ..that the Temple of Herod - stood on this site.
0:14:20 > 0:14:25- The cornerstone of the Jewish faith - and the home of God's spirit.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33- For the Jew, - it is the holiest place on earth.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- Jesus would've come here as a boy.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- He would've later taught - and worshipped here as a man.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- It was here that he vented his anger - at the Jews' lack of respect...
0:14:51 > 0:14:52- ..for God's sanctuary.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12- Shortly after Jesus' day, - the Romans destroyed the temple.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19- Military power entered - the Lord's house and destroyed it.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25- The Romans demolished every sign...
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- ..that a temple once stood here.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32- It was burnt to the ground.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41- Since the seventh century...
0:15:41 > 0:15:44- ..Muslims - have worshipped on the Temple Mount.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52- Muslims refer to it - as the Noble Sanctuary...
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- ..and it's easy to see why.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- The Dome of the Rock - stands above a place...
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- ..that is sacred - to both Muslims and Jew.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- It was here - that Muhammad ascended to heaven...
0:16:14 > 0:16:19- ..accompanied by the Angel Gabriel - in the Islamic tradition.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29- This natural cave is called - the Well of Souls beneath the Rock.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34- There are Jews who claim - that the Ark of the Covenant...
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- ..has been concealed - in a chamber down here.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46- But Muslims are unwilling - to yield their control of the site.
0:16:47 > 0:16:52- This Dome of the Rock where - Muhammad travelled by the sky...
0:16:52 > 0:16:54- ..and to God.
0:16:54 > 0:16:58- Here, the land of the prophet - and the holy land of Islam.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03- Two faiths - clinging to their history.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05- Is there room for compromise?
0:17:11 > 0:17:15- With all respect to - somebody's belief in the temple...
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- ..there are other beliefs - and other reality.
0:17:19 > 0:17:24- So the question is, can we - separate between other beliefs...
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- ..and continuing - the life of Jerusalem?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- Many times people criticise...
0:17:30 > 0:17:34- ..what the Muslim - is doing in the Temple Mount...
0:17:34 > 0:17:38- ..but you have to remember - the balance is between...
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- ..what Israel is controlling - and having comparing to them.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50- Seeing both sides of the coin, - as it were.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55- You'd assume that an archaeologist - would be eager to do so.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03- After all, science - is supposed to be impartial.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08- But here, the emphasis - is on uncovering evidence...
0:18:09 > 0:18:11- ..to support only one faith.
0:18:14 > 0:18:19- Soaring visitor numbers are used - as justification for the venture.
0:18:19 > 0:18:25- More than 10,000 people - have come here voluntarily to help.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35- That is a very impressive thing.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- You do not have such an exposure...
0:18:38 > 0:18:40- ..in other - archaeological projects.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- So this is unique - because of the special nature...
0:18:45 > 0:18:47- ..of the Temple Mount.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53- For past archaeologists...
0:18:53 > 0:18:57- ..the main information - comes from the small finds...
0:18:57 > 0:19:00- ..such as pottery...
0:19:00 > 0:19:01- ..bones, glass.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09- They tell us a lot - about the history of the site.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17- But it's difficult - to tell what's being proved here.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- Almost every find dates back to - a time centuries after the temple.
0:19:24 > 0:19:26- Looks like a coin in shape.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32- She said those are hard to figure.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36- But it's fun to spend the day - pretending to be an archaeologist!
0:19:37 > 0:19:42- They were saying that if it's green, - then it might be a coin.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45- Dina, can you look at something?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- Is that possibly a coin?
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- Yes, it is! - You're a very lucky group.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Well done! - Guys, we have another coin!
0:19:59 > 0:20:02- But something very serious - is at work here too.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05- Not archaeology but politics.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09- I'm frequently asked, - "What proof do you have...
0:20:09 > 0:20:13- "..that there was a temple - of the Jews on the Temple Mount?"
0:20:13 > 0:20:17- That is very strange.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- But, of course, - it is a political tool.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37- Nobody's denying what happened...
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- ..after - the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- The Jews were displaced - to four corners of the world.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- This was a tragedy - for the entire Jewish nation.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56- Uprooting their way of life...
0:20:57 > 0:21:01- ..and ruining the focus - of their daily worship rituals.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05- That suddenly stopped.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10- We've been in exile for 2,000 years.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17- The history of the Jews - is familiar to us all.
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- It's natural for them to remember - the destruction of Jerusalem...
0:21:22 > 0:21:25- ..as a series of events - that should never arise again.
0:21:25 > 0:21:30- But there are some who are keen - to acknowledge another truth.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35- They aren't the only people - to have suffered pain and loss.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- They aren't the only ones...
0:21:39 > 0:21:42- ..with a claim - to the holy land of Jerusalem.
0:21:42 > 0:21:47- We believe Jerusalem must be - considered a World Heritage Site.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- Jerusalem - must be open to different cultures.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54- This is the only future I see.
0:21:54 > 0:21:58- Any other future for Jerusalem - is very dangerous.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- It's believed that the - Temple of Herod, Jesus' temple...
0:22:13 > 0:22:17- ..was the most beautiful - in the world 2,000 years ago.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Today it's the focus - of vicious conflict.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29- The battle over - the Holy Land of Jerusalem rages on.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:22:59 > 0:22:59- .