JERUSALEM : Protests near site of excavation of holy site in Jerusalem intensify as police bar the Mufti of Jerusalem from entering the compound.

Israeli security forces and demonstrators continued their face-off amid increasing tensions near the site of a controversial excavation in Jerusalem's Old City. The Mufti of Jerusalem and Holy Land tried to gain entry to the area but was barred by Israeli police. Muslim protests continued Thursday (February 8) against Israeli excavation work near an entrance to a compound in Jerusalem that houses al-Aqsa mosque. The renovation works began on Tuesday (February 6) under heavy security, despite Palestinian protests and Muslim anger which were not settled by Israeli assurances the dig would not harm Islam's third holiest shrine. Palestinian leaders have threatened a violent response if any damage is caused to the mosque. Arab leaders of neighbouring countries also expressed concerns for grave consequences should the excavation continue. Jordan's King Abdullah said the work could derail the revival of Arab-Israeli peace talks. Morocco and Egypt both called for an immediate halt to the excavation. Israel's Antiquities Authority said it was searching for artefacts at the base of the compound known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount before construction of a pedestrian bridge to replace a ramp leading up to the complex. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Thursday spurned an appeal from his defence minister to consider halting excavation work. The Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, appointed by Jordan as the highest Islamic cleric for Palestinian Muslims, arrived near the site of excavation and addressed the crowd of protesters. "Our faithful brother, those who have faces shinning with faith and Islam and its (Islam's) carefulness in protecting and defending their Aqsa (Mosque) from the enemies who are trying day and night to mess with it," Mufti Mohammed Husseini said. The Mufti along with other religious figures attempted to make their way towards the site where excavations are taking place but was stopped and denied entry by the Israeli police. "It is our right to go and see what is happening over there, to see what crimes you are committing over there," the Mufti shouted as he stood face to face with the policeman in command. Israeli policemen had earlier arrested the leader of Islamic movement in Israel, Raed Salah, and the Arab Israeli Knesset member, Ibrahim Sarsour. Both were released and Raed Salah was barred from being within 150 metres of the old city walls. "The Israeli authority is an occupying power when it comes to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and it is not its (Israel's) right to pass any judgement over the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. Based on this if I found any necessity to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque I will enter immediately," Sheikh Raed Salah told Reuters. Israeli police reinforced patrols in the Old City and restricted access to the mosque area to Palestinian men over the age of 45, in a bid to prevent violence, a spokesman said, after Islamic leaders urged followers to defend the compound. Israel's opening of an entrance to an archaeological tunnel near Haram al-Sharif in 1996 triggered Palestinian protests and led to clashes in which 61 Palestinians and 15 Israeli soldiers were killed.

ITN Source | February 8, 2007

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