The Southern Branch of the Islamic Movement, headed by Ra'am-Ta'al chairman MK Ibrahim Sarsour, on Sunday accused Israel of carrying out excavations underneath Jerusalem's Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

Sarsour also claimed the Israel Antiquities Authority paid a Palestinian vendor $60,000 for his store along the Temple Mount. The Israel Antiquities Authority denied the accusation.

Earlier on Sunday, the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement presented pictures taken two weeks ago that allegedly documented excavations near the Temple Mount.

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Northern Branch leader Sheikh Ra'ad Salah said the excavations were meant to "create a stranglehold around Al-Aqsa Mosque, in order for the Israeli establishment to fulfill its darkest dreams of building a Jewish Temple [in its place]." Islamic Movements representatives added that they have information on an upcoming dig that they will soon reveal.

An inquiry by Haaretz revealed that the excavations referred to by Sarsour were carried out some 100 meters from the Temple Mount and were stopped due to lack of funds. The excavations, carried out by the Israel Antiquities Authority at the behest of a Jewish group on property owned by businessman Aaron Mosovitch, was first revealed by Haaretz about a year ago.

In the article, archaeologists said the excavations were not only vertical, but horizontal, and advanced to within 60 meters of the Temple Mount. However, archaeologists claimed the purpose of the dig was to clear out an old garbage-filled tunnel to determine whether it posed a safety hazard.

Since 1967, Muslim organizations have often accused Israel of digging tunnels underneath the Al-Aqsa Mosque in order to destabilize its foundations. All claims turned out to be false, with the exception of one: In 1981 Religious Affairs Ministry officials carried out excavations in a preexisting tunnel that led beneath the Temple Mount. Excavations were brought to a halt by order of then-prime minister Menachem Begin and Minister of Police Dr. Yosef Burg, and its entrance was permanently sealed.

The said property has been in Jewish hands for over 100 years. It was previously the location of Ohel Yitzhak Synagogue that was abandoned, then demolished in the wake of the 1936 Arab Revolt.