Ground-level politics in Jerusalem rarely stay quiet for long. Dig a few meters down, and the stakes multiply exponentially.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently conducted a high-security tour through the archaeological excavations and tunnels resting directly beneath the Western Wall and sections near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem. Wearing heavy security details and moving behind bulletproof glass alongside Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister delivered stark remarks about closeness to the bedrock of ancient history. Meanwhile, you can read related stories here: Why Friedrich Merz Is Facing The Biggest Political Crisis Of His Career.
Why does a tunnel visit spark international outrage? The answer lies in the intense geopolitical weight carried by every stone in the Old City.
The Subterranean Battleground of East Jerusalem
For decades, archaeological digs beneath the Al-Buraq Wall and the wider Al-Aqsa compound have been flashpoints. Israeli authorities maintain that these excavations uncover tangible historical links to ancient Jewish temples, specifically targeting the bedrock near sites known historically as the Holy of Holies. To explore the bigger picture, we recommend the excellent analysis by TIME.
Palestinian officials, regional bodies, and organizations like Hamas view these ongoing digs and high-profile leadership visits entirely differently. They argue that subterranean infrastructure projects and escorted tours are calculated maneuvers designed to alter the legal and physical status quo of occupied East Jerusalem.
When Netanyahu stated from inside the tunnels that touching the ancient stone feels like touching the rock of existence, he wasn't just speaking as an amateur historian. He was projecting sovereignty in a zone where every square inch is intensely contested.
Timing and Regional Escalations
The timing of this underground walkthrough matters just as much as the location. Taking place amid heightened seasonal movements, including visits by cabinet ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir ahead of Yom Kippur, the tour coincided with large numbers of Israelis entering the Western Wall plaza under heavy guard.
Critics point out that such actions intentionally inflame religious sensitivities across the Middle East. Hamas quickly issued formal statements condemning the tunnel incursion as a flagrant assault on Islamic heritage, reiterating that the entire compound—including its courtyards, subterranean boundaries, and gates—remains exclusively Islamic.
Meanwhile, human rights monitors and local Palestinian residents report that these archaeological zones act as expansion vectors, gradually tightening control over neighborhoods like Wadi Street in the Old City.
What Happens Next on the Ground
Excavations underneath sensitive holy sites will not pause. The political dividends for leadership factions relying on religious nationalist support remain too high. Expect further high-level ministerial walkthroughs, heightened friction during religious holidays, and immediate counter-condemnations from regional neighbors.
Watch the bedrock. The real political battles in Jerusalem are increasingly fought underground.
Netanyahu visits tunnel under Aqsa Mosque
This video provides a direct look at the footage and context surrounding Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial tour of the underground tunnels in Jerusalem.
http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/1
