The Western Wall Tunnels are an artificial set of tunnels dug in the 1980s along the Western Wall, from the public praying plaza to its northern end. The purpose of the tunneling was to research the Western Wall and related antiquities. Many discoveries were made in these excavations, attesting to the historical significance of the Western Wall.

The Western Wall Tunnels Causing Riots

Although the tunnels were made for research purposes, the Palestinians claimed that they were part of a “Zionistic plan to undermine the foundation of the Dome of the Rock” and so clear the way for building a Jewish Temple. In reality, the tunnels only follow the line of the Western Wall. They do NOT go under it in any place. Nevertheless, they have been politicized over the years, and in 1996, when Israel installed an exit at the northern end of the tunnel, the Palestinians rioted for three days. In retrospect, these events only gave the tunnels more publicity and made them a popular tourist attraction.

Joining a Tour of the Western Wall Tunnels

The Western Wall Heritage foundation manages the Western Wall Tunnels. Touring them can only be done by joining a group tour, and a representative of the Heritage Foundation leads the tour. The Tour takes over an hour and ends at the Muslim Quarter, near the first stations of the Via Dolorosa.

Touring the Western Wall Tunnels can be combined with a day tour of Jerusalem.