Built during renovations of Jerusalem in the 1st century BCE, the ancient wall that constitutes Judaism’s holiest site was not part of the Temple itself, but of a structure surrounding the Temple Mount. Nadav Shragai explores its history as a place where Jews gather to pray, beginning with the massive earthquake that struck Jerusalem in 1546:

Today Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed that the explosions that blew two holes in an Israeli-owned cargo ship on Friday were the work of Iran. The incident was followed by airstrikes on military targets in the vicinity of Damascus, likely carried out by the IDF—which might have been retaliation, but might also have been routine attempts to curtail the Iranian military buildup in Syria. But irrespective of its military response, Yoav Limor urges Jerusalem to act diplomatically as well: