An Israeli archaeologist believes he has pinpointed the exact location of the Second Temple. Professor Joseph Patrich of the Hebrew University plans to publish his findings, which place the location of the Second Temple further south and east than previously thought. Patrich based his findings on a study of a large underground cistern on the Temple Mount, that would have been used to hold the water for the laver, which was used by the priests for their daily cleansing. 

Quote: "By thus locating the laver, the water wheel, the ramp and the altar, one can then finally map, again in coordination with the Mishna, the alignment of the Temple itself and its gates and chambers, he said. These considerations led Patrich to place the Second Temple further to the east and south than earlier thought, and at a south-easterly angle relative to the eastern wall of the Temple Mount, and not perpendicular to it, as earlier assumed. Patrich said that his research indicates that the rock over which the Dome of the Rock was built in the 7th century CE is actually outside the confines of the Temple.

One of the newly reformed Jewish Sanhedrin's goals was to locate the exact position of the Second Temple, before planning the reconstruction of the Third Temple. Jews believe that even though the Second Temple has been demolished, the ground on which the Temple was built is still holy and cannot be accessed without the proper purification and sacrificial rituals as described in the Old Testament. Christians have long believed that the Dome of the Rock, the Al-Aqsa mosque, must first be destroyed before the Jews could rebuild their temple. But according to this article, and according to some Rabbis, this may not be necessary if the place the Temple once stood happens to be adjacent to the Dome of the Rock. And all this is taking place as tensions over the excavations at the site continue to build. A Jewish archaeologist is claiming that the dig at the Temple Mount is illegal, as the authorities have not acquired the appropriate permit. The United Nations has called on Israel to suspend any action that could cause provocation for the Muslims...

Quote: "The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) issued a statement Thursday critical of the renovation and calling on Israel "to suspend any action that could endanger the spirit of mutual respect until such time as the will to dialogue prevails once again."

Source Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem Post