 In 1887 Baron Rothschild conceived a plan to purchase and demolish the Moroccan Quarter as " a merit and honor to the Jewish People . " The proposed purchase was considered and approved by the Ottoman Governor of Jerusalem , Rauf Pasha , and by the Mufti of Jerusalem , Mohammed Tahir Husseini . Even after permission was obtained from the highest secular and Muslim religious authority to proceed , the transaction was shelved after the authorities insisted that after demolishing the quarter no construction of any type could take place there , only trees could be planted to beautify the area . Additionally the Jews would not have full control over the area . This meant that they would have no power to stop people from using the plaza for various activities , including the driving of mules , which would cause a disturbance to worshippers . Other reports place the scheme 's failure on Jewish infighting as to whether the plan would foster a detrimental Arab reaction . 
