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Islamic Movement leader Sheik Ra'ad Salah standing outside the Dung Gate, an entrance to Jeruslaem's Old City, near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on Wed. (AP)
Last update - 23:06 07/02/2007
Livni: Extremists using J'lem dig for their own political benefit
By Haaretz Service and Agencies

Foreing Minister Tzipi Livni said Thursday that Israel would never do anything to harm freedom of worship for all religions in Jerusalem, and that certain groups are using excavations near the Temple Mount for their own political gain.

"The Temple Mount is the site most holy to the Jewish people," said Livni in a statement posted on the Foreign Minsitry Web site. "The State ofIsrael will never to anything to harm the freedom of worship of members of all religions - in Jerusalem or anywhere in Israel."

"There are irresponsible elements, who know full well that no harm is being caused here to any holy site, who are exploiting Israeli democracy to fan religious feelings for political gain," Livni continued. "This is true of both political groups within Israel and extremist elements outside Israel."
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On Tuesday Israel began building a walkway up to the compound in the Old City, saying the construction is required to replace a centuries-old earthen ramp that partially collapsed in a snowstorm three years ago.

Access to the Temple Mount compound, which includes the Al-Aqsa Mosque, was restricted for a second consecutive day Wednesday due to fears of further protests over the work in the area.

The digging will use smaller excavating tools, and is supervised by a team of archaeologists. The excavations are intended to strengthen the support columns of the Mugrabi bridge.

Four additional columns to be built will be located on the grounds of the Jerusalem Archaeological Garden next to the Dung Gate.

Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on Wednesday issued a ruling prohibiting the head of the Islamic Movement Northern Branch, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, from approaching Jerusalem's Old City for ten days.

Salah and six other people were detained after what police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld called a "brawl" with officers guarding the construction site.

Salah and the head of the Jerusalem Supreme Muslim Council Ikrima Sabri called this week for all Muslims in Israel to flock to the Temple Mount complex to prevent Israel from actions that they say are meant to destroy the Mugrabi Gate.

Islamic Movement deputy chief Kamel Hatib said that holding up Salah for questioning is "a provocative act, the purpose of which is only retaliation."

Three Palestinian youths were detained after throwing stones at a bus near a school on Sultan Suleiman Street in East Jerusalem in protest against the excavation.

Also Wednesday, the Justice Ministry said it is reviewing the legality of the building permit issued by the Licensing Authority in Jerusalem for the construction of the Mugrabi bridge walkway that serves as the primary entrance to the Mount. The investigation is expected to be completed next week.

The Justice Ministry said that "even if it is decided that is was not appropriate to issue a permit to construct the bridge based on the building program currently in place, there are no obstacles to advance a new program for building the bridge."

The Israel Antiquities Authority said the ongoing work is not being conducted on the basis of a building permit, but rather the excavation represents a "rescue operation" which is expected to last several months and does not require a permit.

The Hadash and Balad party factions passed no-confidence motions on the government in response to the excavations.

Hadash Chairman Mohammed Barakeh said "a government that always stoops to provocations and bloodshed has to go."

The Islamic Movement on Wednesday called on supporters to rally the following day to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque, to complement the demonstration planned for Friday in Nazareth.

Egypt's top Muslim cleric called Israeli excavations near a compound housing the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem a "sinful aggression" and appealed on Wednesday for global action to protect the site.

Israel began the work on Tuesday, prompting Palestinian protests and Israeli assurances the dig would not harm the shrine.

"Whoever can write should write. Whoever has a word to say should say it. Whoever can defend Al-Aqsa using art should do so," Sheikh Mohamed Sayed Tantawi told reporters.

He called for immediate intervention by the UN Security Council and "all international organizations, governments and peoples".

Tantawi is the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Mosque, one of the oldest and most prominent seats of Sunni Muslim religious thinking.

Asked whether Muslims should invoke jihad, or holy struggle, to protect Al-Aqsa, he said: "Jihad is a religious duty on every person, to do what is in their capacity to do."

Also Wednesday, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, called on Islamic nations to retaliate against Israel for the excavation, state television reported.

"The world of Islam should show a serious reaction to the Zionist regime's insult to Al-Aqsa Mosque," the station quoted Khamenei as saying during a meeting with Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, the leader of Damascus-based Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Khamenei did not say what sort of response he intended, but he said the Islamic world should make Israel regret what it is doing.

Police on Tuesday decided to restrict access to the Temple Mount and deployed security forces throughout the Old City of Jerusalem, fearing that violent protest, specifically by members of the Islamic Movement, may break out in the city. All men under the age of 45 were barred from from prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Jews and tourists were also forbidden from visiting the compound.

The Temple Mount compound is the holiest site in Judaism. The compound is referred to by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, the Noble Sanctuary, and houses the third holiest site in Islam.

Abbas: Dig likely to endanger peace efforts
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas warned Tuesday that the work was likely to endanger regional peace efforts, Israel Radio reported.

He said the excavation demonstrated Israel's intentions to destroy holy Islamic sites, the radio said.

Jordan's King Abdullah II said Tuesday that the excavation has led to a dangerous rise in Middle East tensions and could derail the revival of Arab-Israeli peace talks.

"What Israel is doing in its practices and attacks against our sacred Muslim sites in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa is a blatant violation that is not acceptable under any pretext," the state news agency Petra quoted the monarch as saying.

"These measures will only create an atmosphere that will not at all help in the success of efforts being undertaken to restore the peace process," Abdullah said.

"This is a dangerous escalation we have seen in the last few hours ... these works and excavations pose a threat to the foundations of Al-Aqsa," he added.

Police on Tuesday arrested four Muslim worshippers who threw stones at the Antiquities Authority excavation underneath the Mugrabi Gate.

The Islamic Movement said Tuesday that it plans to hold a demonstration against the excavations on Friday.

MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List) cautioned Tuesday that the excavations were likely to ignite a third intifada, that will include protests and conflict throughout the Arab and Muslim world.

"The Israeli government is again provoking the Muslim world and the Palestinian people, and is not hesitating to ignite the region on behalf of irresponsible decisions," El-Sana said.

El-Sana accused the government of trying to "deflect attention away from their failures in the war in Lebanon."

Archaeologist Yuval Baruch said that there is no intention of digging underneath the Temple Mount or of causing any damage to the Western Wall of the Mount.

"The incitement occurring in the Muslim world over the excavations is merely an attempt to twist a non-political act into something religious and divisive," said a source at the Israel Antiquities Authority.
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  1.   Why isn`t Israel showing models of the walkway 11:11  |  Jonathan 07/02/07
  2.   Let`s be clear about this. 11:33  |  Paul 07/02/07
  3.   The Arab members of Knesset, and the leaders of the Islamic...... 11:35  |  Nadav 07/02/07
  4.   Complaints, complaints! 11:36  |  Dani Reiss 07/02/07
  5.   a Storm in a Waterglass 11:43  |  Alicia 07/02/07
  6.   This is disgusting, Dispicable 12:06  |  Arab Observer 07/02/07
  7.   To Paul #2 12:31  |  Lubnani Yehudi 07/02/07
  8.   Olmert was there in 1999, where is he now? 12:47  |  Lubnani Yehudi 07/02/07
  9.   This is very dangerous for Israel 12:58  |  Clickfool 07/02/07
  10.   To Paul LA 13:01  |  Joseph 07/02/07
  11.   the secret under the mount 13:10  |  secrets 07/02/07
  12.   Outrage!! 13:19  |  Dror 07/02/07
  13.   Apartheid 13:30  |  Ron 07/02/07
  14.   #6 Arab "observer" 13:47  |  Hastaroth 07/02/07
  15.   if only Iran was a few years ahead 13:52  |  Leon Rosgarten 07/02/07
  16.   The order of public works in a democracy 14:02  |  Brigitte Meier 07/02/07
  17.   TO secrets: presumably the Holy Ark- the Tablets! 14:07  |  Alicia 07/02/07
  18.   Excavations 14:13  |  Danny 07/02/07
  19.   This is just ridiculous!! 14:25  |  Simone 07/02/07
  20.   Is there something to hide? 14:26  |  Mark Lincoln 07/02/07
  21.   Alicia - shooting to start 14:27  |  Mark Lincoln 07/02/07
  22.   secrets 14:32  |  real vision 07/02/07
  23.   Arabs may be to pooped for latest hysteria 14:43  |  Smearnov 07/02/07
  24.   #14 14:48  |  Arab Observer 07/02/07
  25.   Abbass ,What peace ? What efforts ? 14:48  |  marcel 07/02/07
  26.   Bill Maher, my friend, where are you....?? 14:57  |  Swiss (Dino) 07/02/07
  27.   Haaretz Could Do Us A Great Service 15:00  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/02/07
  28.   Clickfool,Palis should cease teror 15:08  |  VLAD 07/02/07
  29.   Mark Lincoln has it 15:14  |  christoph 07/02/07
  30.   Arab Observer and all tthose interested. 15:17  |  Nephtali 07/02/07
  31.   # Brigitte Meier 15:20  |  Simone 07/02/07
  32.   Muslim BS 15:31  |  Butch ben Yok 07/02/07
  33.   to Arab observer 15:35  |  nina 07/02/07
  34.   Mark Lincoln - You Would Think So 15:35  |  Phinias Whoppy 07/02/07
  35.   Search the Internet on this one... 15:36  |  Avi 07/02/07
  36.   Avichai-el #30 takes a rather literal view 15:42  |  Yaakov Sullivan 07/02/07
  37.   Tired of Moslem rantings 15:47  |  Avrum 07/02/07
  38.   leon as usual i like your posts 15:48  |  vladimir 07/02/07
  39.   Temple Mount. 15:58  |  sandra chitayat 07/02/07
  40.   to all idiots israeli bashers 16:01  |  vladimir 07/02/07
  41.   INVITE AL JAZEERA 16:03  |  Brant 07/02/07
  42.   Under the mount 16:04  |  Gooby 07/02/07
  43.   Have any of these idiots seen the actual ramp? 16:08  |  Richard S 07/02/07
  44.   #20: nothing to hide 16:09  |  Paul Freedman 07/02/07
  45.   Repairing a walkway. 16:11  |  sandra chitayat 07/02/07
  46.   clickfool...do the arabs ask israel before ILLEGAL diggings!?!?! 16:15  |  SHIMON 07/02/07
  47.   arabs wouldnt be restrited if they DIDNT THROW ROCKS!!!! 16:18  |  SHIMON 07/02/07
  48.   Brave Iran 16:19  |  Danny - Israeli one 07/02/07
  49.   Who is the big bully? 16:19  |  Chiang 07/02/07
  50.   nothing but a pathetic excuse to throw rocks 16:20  |  SHIMON 07/02/07
  51.   20Mark Lincoln: You show him a fly, he`ll see an elephant 16:25  |  Logician 07/02/07
  52.   #9: clickfool--they are repairing the site 16:29  |  Paul Freedman 07/02/07
  53.   israel keep on digging off the temple mount 16:35  |  ;-) 07/02/07
  54.   # 6 Arab observer 16:36  |  Lynn 07/02/07
  55.   The Ignorance Of Islam Is The Wisdom Of Satan! 16:39  |  Lavi 07/02/07
  56.   # 16 Order of democracy 16:46  |  Lynn 07/02/07
  57.   #15 response to `if only iran was a few years.. 16:49  |  danalogue 07/02/07
  58.   Get Ready For The Next Puppet Show 16:51  |  Tony Anthony 07/02/07
  59.   #53: so right--there is no more PA 16:56  |  Paul Freedman 07/02/07
  60.   49chiang. Your words, like the ancient chinese philosphers... 16:58  |  common sense 07/02/07
  61.   Jews and muslims should respect each other 16:59  |  Edith 07/02/07
  62.   I agree with clickfool 17:06  |  Edith 07/02/07
  63.   #62: death-threats are not communication 17:18  |  Paul Freedman 07/02/07
  64.   # 7 Paul Versus Harry Potter 17:22  |  Tony Anthony 07/02/07
  65.   Jerusalem?s Old City as religious Contentions 17:26  |  H.H.M 07/02/07
  66.   Looking Forward to Islamic Retaliation 17:38  |  Brad 07/02/07
  67.   Edith..what is disrepectful about a ramp? 17:40  |  SHIMON 07/02/07
  68.   Sorry I think it is stupid.... 17:41  |  Chiang 07/02/07