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Israeli architects dissect flashpoint structures in Venice

The curators say that their goal in creating this year’s Israeli architectural exhibit for the Venice Biennale was to offer up an honest and evocative model of five flashpoint Middle Eastern sites.
Thousands of Jews pray on the plaza before the Western Wall, Judiasm's
holiest site, as they recite prayers marking the solemn fasting day of Tisha
B'Av early August 7, 2003. The holy day marks the destruction of both the
First and Second ancient Jewish Temples which stood on the Temple Mount,
behind the Western Wall. NO RIGHTS CLEARANCES OR PERMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS IMAGE REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen

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The Israeli Pavilion at the Venice Biennale's International Architecture Exhibition looks different this year.

Rather than focus on Israeli giants of architecture like Moshe Safdie or Ron Arad or present structural examinations of Israeli scientific achievements — the theme of both the 2016 and the 2017 exhibitions — this year’s pavilion takes a long, unwavering look at five major holy sites.

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