Haaretz:
About two weeks ago, a young ultra-Orthodox man was arrested after he was caught using a hammer to smash centuries-old painted wall tiles.
An attempt to harm the fragile status quo at the building which houses King David’s Tomb and the room of the Last Supper may have been behind the smashing of centuries-old tiles at the site two weeks ago, informed sources indicated on Thursday. The Israel Antiquities Authority and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, which manages the site, said the damage to the tiles was ‘total.’

Tomb of King David

Entrance to King David’s tomb on the Mount Zion

The tiles, and the traditional site of King David’s burial, are located on the lower floor of an ancient building on Jerusalem’s Mount Zion that is sacred to the three monotheistic faiths. The Room of the Last Supper, where Christians believe Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples before he was crucified, occupies the second floor.

The tiles, which feature flowers and trees painted in shades of blue, turquoise and red, were installed at the site, which is also important to Islam, during an Ottoman renovation in the 17th century. They serve as evidence that the building – as indeed Jerusalem – was once controlled by the Muslims. They were damaged about five years ago during renovations carried out by the Religious Affairs Ministry; some were plastered over, and a Holy Ark was put on top.

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