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Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Jerusalem District Police chief Ilan Franco walking through the Old City of Jerusalem on Sunday. (Public Security Ministry)
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Last update - 00:00 11/02/2007
Olmert: Muslim opposition won't deter Jerusalem excavation
By Gideon Alon, Jonathan Lis, Yoav Stern and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents, and News Agencies

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday that Israel would not let the Muslim opposition dictate what sort of activities could be done on Israeli territory in the Old City of Jerusalem.

"[Hamas leader] Khaled Meshal and [Islamic Movement head] Ra'ad Salah cannot tell us what to do 20 meters from the Western Wall. Tomorrow they will also tell us what do at the Jaffa Gate, and after that they'll write what we can do in the Mamila neighborhood. This is our territory and our sovereignty," said Olmert.

According to Olmert, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah was operating out of "belief that if his vision is realized, Israel won't exist as a Jewish and democratic state. He also reiterated that the construction work was being done in coordination with all sources, including the Palestinian wakf and the Jordanian government.
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The cabinet on Sunday approved the continuation of the excavations near the Mugrabi Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, a government official said, despite protests by Muslims in Israel and across the Arab world.

"The government approved continuation of construction at the approach to the Mugrabi Gate within the proposed framework, at all possible speed," the official said.

Almost all the cabinet ministers supported the continuation of the excavation, excluding Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Education Minister Yuli Tamir, and Minister Ghaleb Majadele, all of whom abstained.

The cabinet agreed that the international condemnation of Israel over the issue would be fielded by the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem.

The ministers also agreed that the police and the defense establishment would be responsible for intelligence and operations surrounding the excavation, and Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Yaakov Edri would be responsible for coordinating the continuation of the excavation.

The dig was approved two weeks ago as a necessary precursor to replacing a ramp that provides access to the gate. The ramp collapsed three years ago, and was replaced by a temporary structure, but plans have since been approved for a permanent replacement, and by law, any construction work in the Old City must be preceded by a salvage dig.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said construction of the ramp would span eight months.

The dig is taking place in the Jewish Quarter, outside the Temple Mount, but the Islamic world has accused it of being meant to undermine the Temple Mount.

Under heavy police guard, workmen returned to the Old City site Sunday, after a 24-hour break for the Sabbath.

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter told the cabinet Sunday that, despite complaints by Defense Minister Amir Peretz, a police representative had advised Peretz of the planned construction work.

According to Dichter, the police head of operations division, Major General Berti Ohayon, presented the plan for the construction work on February 1.

Sources close to Peretz told Israel Radio, however, that the Defense Ministry was left out of the preparations for the construction works.

Also Sunday, Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi instructed the head of investigations division, Major General Yochanan Danino, to examine whether there is grounds for launching a criminal investigation for suspected incitement against the head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah.

Police dispersed an illegal demonstration held by members of the Islamic Movement on Sunday and arrested two protesters near the Dung Gate in the Old City as construction work resumed near the Mugrabi Gate.

Last week, Peretz sent Olmert a letter calling on him to halt construction work, citing public security concerns.

Peretz attached to his request an opinion written by General (res.) Amos Gilad, head of the political-military bureau at the Defense Ministry. Gilad said in the letter that the construction was causing considerable damage and would create foment in the Arab world, particularly at the present time, when Israel is attempting to initiate steps to calm things down with the Palestinians and the Arab world.

But Olmert told the Sunday cabinet meeting that "all works unequivocally take place outside the Temple Mount. [The works reinforce] a dangerous structure in need of renovation and we are responsible for its maintenance."

"It is a pity that radical Muslim elements are trying to overturn the status quo and turn to violence," he added.

Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu) said, "we must continue with the construction works at the Mugrabi Gate in the name of reason, otherwise Israeli sovereignty would be seriously compromised."

Interior Minister Roni Bar-On said "we must not yield to blackmail, threats and pontification, because if we give in protesters will reach the Jaffa Gate, Davidke Square [in central Jerusalem] and ultimately to the Government Compound."

Dichter visited the Western Wall plaza Sunday morning to inspect the construction works, Israel Radio reported. He told the radio that the work will continue despite the violent protests.

"Construction works at the Mugrabi Gate are an unshakeable fact," Dichter told the radio. "They shall be completed, they are not within the Temple Mount compound, and any Muslim familiar with the location understands this is a groundless scandal."

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld reported no fresh incidents Sunday morning and said the repair work on the walkway, on the edge of the Temple Mount, was scheduled to proceed throughout the day.

Rosenfeld said police in and around East Jerusalem would stay at an increased strength of around 2,000 officers and restrictions barring men under the age of 45 from praying at the sanctuary's Muslim holy sites would remain in force.

Police say intelligence points to efforts by both Fatah and Hamas to fan the flames in the capital.

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  1.   WAQF not interested in meeting with officials 04:53  |  Gina 11/02/07
  2.   Building a synagogue? 06:24  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  3.   SOME REAL FACTS; 06:36  |  MK 11/02/07
  4.   #2 You got your facts from.... 07:14  |  Moe 11/02/07
  5.   Arabs live in lala land, un-real 07:21  |  realist 11/02/07
  6.   WAR has begun 08:33  |  Jonathan 11/02/07
  7.   Someone must be blind not to see the real motive behind the ..... 10:32  |  Nadav 11/02/07
  8.   To Moe No. 4: Very Convincing! 10:55  |  Neil 11/02/07
  9.   I WONDER IF THEY DUG ALL THE WAY INTO THE JEWISH QUARTER 11:02  |  nechama 11/02/07
  10.   MOE, I wish to share with you a couple of Arab names of people 11:04  |  Nadav 11/02/07
  11.   Israel must end its dhimmi status at our holiest site. 11:52  |  Yacov 11/02/07
  12.   Jerusalem 11:52  |  Khaled 11/02/07
  13.   Moe is right! 12:00  |  JDM 11/02/07
  14.   They want to complete nassarallah work to muslimize Jerusalem 12:03  |  Joseph E . 11/02/07
  15.   Muslims are destroying bridge of peace Israel wnats to build 12:14  |  Joseph E . 11/02/07
  16.   JERUSALEM NO 12 12:49  |  Abraham 11/02/07
  17.   UN resolution 465 13:01  |  Lars Hansen 11/02/07
  18.   AFTER 2000 YEARS OF EXILE... 13:33  |  SAM(NEW YORK) 11/02/07
  19.   sensative 13:51  |  rose 11/02/07
  20.   Construction works at Mugrabi Gate 14:19  |  Raj 11/02/07
  21.   #16 14:20  |  Khaled 11/02/07
  22.   It`s TIME !!! 14:41  |  Avraham 11/02/07
  23.   Time to address the previoius Temple Mount Insult... 14:44  |  avi 11/02/07
  24.   To Khaled No 21 14:51  |  Adeni Jew 11/02/07
  25.   Islamic movement in Israel??? 14:55  |  dani 11/02/07
  26.   Israeli Jews must take a stand or be dhimmi forever. 15:13  |  Yacov 11/02/07
  27.   To Avi No. 23 15:23  |  Sharon Gold 11/02/07
  28.   Temple Mount: what Israelis really intend 15:26  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  29.   The priks laughing in the picture 15:26  |  Guy From NYC 11/02/07
  30.   BUILD A SINAGOG OVER AL-AKSA AND ON TOP OF THE DOME 15:39  |  20 X 20 11/02/07
  31.   # 4 Moe 15:40  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  32.   # 12 Khaled on Jerusalem 15:44  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  33.   Well done 15:47  |  James Stevens 11/02/07
  34.   # 24 Adeni Jew 16:00  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  35.   #30 16:00  |  Khaled 11/02/07
  36.   Gus from NY who can`t spell 16:01  |  ChanahS 11/02/07
  37.   Muslims protest too much 16:07  |  twogunz 11/02/07
  38.   # 20 Raj 16:11  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  39.   guy from NYC 16:14  |  Lynn 11/02/07
  40.   I am soo stupid 16:15  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  41.   #28 Click`s misconceptions 16:31  |  * BEN JABO 11/02/07
  42.   Chanahs: I ignore mentally challenged people 16:41  |  Guy From NYC 11/02/07
  43.   Clickfool #40 16:53  |  Abby 11/02/07
  44.   lynn 16:57  |  Abby 11/02/07
  45.   Khaled 17:13  |  Honest Observation 11/02/07
  46.   Good Luck On The Excavation, You`ll Need It 17:15  |  Tony Anthony 11/02/07
  47.   THERE IS BUT ONE HOLY SITE ON THIS EARTH 17:17  |  Harry D 11/02/07
  48.   Bravo and just be firm 17:23  |  Ben 11/02/07
  49.   excavation #40 cickfool 17:24  |  vs 11/02/07
  50.   Anger for Anger`s Sake 17:25  |  Guy 11/02/07
  51.   to dani 17:25  |  Sol 11/02/07
  52.   #33 J Steven 17:25  |  Ben 11/02/07
  53.   Ridiculous parties 17:26  |  student of sanity 11/02/07
  54.   #28 Clickfool 17:29  |  Ben 11/02/07
  55.   #29 Guy From NYC 17:32  |  Willy 11/02/07
  56.   shut it all down 17:33  |  Guy 11/02/07
  57.   Israel Kings didn`t need permission to build Temple.Build Israel! 17:37  |  Vittorio 11/02/07
  58.   Gus # 42 17:40  |  ChanahS 11/02/07
  59.   #42 Guy from NYC (so he sez) 17:55  |  * BEN JABO 11/02/07
  60.   most of you don`t even know - 18:09  |  Ivri 11/02/07
  61.   Excavation 18:21  |  Serge Oberoi 11/02/07
  62.   Mossad sent #40 and other FAKE Clickfools 18:27  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  63.   IUsrael Must MAke Situation Crystal Clear! 18:31  |  Me 11/02/07
  64.   #3 MK - Some Real facts 18:36  |  Serge Oberoi 11/02/07
  65.   Fit yourself to circumstances. 18:40  |  H.H.M 11/02/07
  66.   Thanks Haaretz; my eyes are resting on these gorgeous Hunks! HUH 18:51  |  Alicia 11/02/07
  67.   EXTRAORDINARY # 28 18:51  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  68.   #53 and "Tikun Olam" 18:57  |  HonestAbe 11/02/07
  69.   Who needs further explanation? 18:59  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  70.   One of the police officers 19:00  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  71.   Alicia`s idea of hunks # 66 19:07  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  72.   to Khaled 19:08  |  bo 11/02/07
  73.   #64 H.H.M. 19:10  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  74.   #67 Clickfool - not extraordinary, but understandable 19:13  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  75.   Har Habayit 19:15  |  Dr. David I. Gross 11/02/07
  76.   He who forgets....... 19:21  |  Mexi 11/02/07
  77.   Fool from NYC 19:22  |  Dr David I. Gross 11/02/07
  78.   #53 HonestAbe - you may be honest, but you`re wrong 19:27  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  79.   Clickfool; you´re jealous! Greetings from my Boudoire! 19:39  |  Alicia 11/02/07
  80.   Tools For Prayer Services 20:03  |  Nephtaly 11/02/07
  81.   Nadav, on bogus "Palestinians" 20:10  |  Nephtali 11/02/07
  82.   Jews Are So Self-Centered 20:20  |  Boyd 11/02/07
  83.   Waqf has been digging in the Temple Mount for years 20:22  |  Paul Henzen 11/02/07
  84.   #67 EXTRAORDINARY # 28 20:23  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  85.   #77 - Don`t Be a Jerk! 20:25  |  Boyd 11/02/07
  86.   #3 - Screwed Up 20:41  |  Boyd 11/02/07
  87.   arabs invented Apartheid 20:42  |  Guy 11/02/07
  88.   #85 the bleeding heart 20:49  |  Guy 11/02/07
  89.   #82 Boyd - Americans are so self-centered 20:58  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  90.   #82 Boyd - Americans are so self-centered 21:02  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  91.   the state of the holly site 21:03  |  a r 11/02/07
  92.   Temple Mount: what Palestinians really intend 21:05  |  Creepfool 11/02/07
  93.   jurusalem 21:14  |  ar 11/02/07
  94.   re: Joseph #15 21:14  |  Paulo 11/02/07
  95.   #91 a r - the ignorant shall inherit the earth 21:28  |  Yonatan 11/02/07
  96.   # 82 Boyd 21:35  |  ChanahS 11/02/07
  97.   GUY; the black box in Mecca 21:36  |  Alicia 11/02/07
  98.   Digs 21:40  |  Dwido 11/02/07
  99.   #90 - Better Thank God for Americans 21:46  |  Boyd 11/02/07
  100.   Ben # 52 21:46  |  James Stevens 11/02/07
  101.   #87 Actually it was the British 21:50  |  Chris Linthwaite 11/02/07
  102.   #88 - You Bought the Storyline! 21:58  |  Boyd 11/02/07
  103.   #42 A free English lesson for you 22:09  |  manny.b 11/02/07
  104.   #62 They don`t want your autograph 22:14  |  manny.b 11/02/07
  105.   Post imposters are a threat - where`s haaretz? 22:14  |  imposterban 11/02/07
  106.   Peretz 22:21  |  Edifice 11/02/07
  107.   Build the synagogue 22:38  |  Bounce 11/02/07
  108.   For Yonatan # 74 22:41  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  109.   For Alicia # 79 22:44  |  Clickfool 11/02/07
  110.   #96 idol worship 22:46  |  real vision 11/02/07
  111.   #102 I speak from experience 22:47  |  Guy 11/02/07
  112.   Visit to Israel 22:54  |  gail and neil baron 11/02/07
  113.   idiots galore 22:56  |  click the clown 11/02/07
  114.   Alicia #92 is right! 22:57  |  Guy 11/02/07
  115.   It`s not the censor; cut the paronoia 23:07  |  Where`s Waldo 11/02/07
  116.   Uh, Clickfool, Mossad doesn`t need to undermine you ... 23:17  |  sk 11/02/07
  117.   #99 Boyd Here`s a tree for you 23:20  |  ChanahS 11/02/07
  118.   Idolaters 23:26  |  Guy 11/02/07
  119.   some real facts 23:43  |  al 11/02/07
  120.   Why push buttons? 00:02  |  Will 12/02/07
  121.   They don`t look poor? 00:04  |  Al 12/02/07
  122.   #117 Guy, Male circumscision... 00:18  |  Maureen Ann 12/02/07
  123.   # 119 Drumping up Fictions 00:23  |  ChanahS 12/02/07
  124.   The play is the same 00:32  |  Baz Mann 12/02/07
  125.   Boyd or is it void ( 0f knoledge/logic/reality) 00:37  |  Dr David I. Gross 12/02/07
  126.   Al`s fantasy world. 00:43  |  Dr David I. Gross 12/02/07
  127.   mexi, agarra la onda 01:38  |  charro 12/02/07
  128.   Baz Mann # 122 01:44  |  ChanahS 12/02/07
  129.   Israel`s response to peace "threats" 01:57  |  A Lebanese 12/02/07
  130.   Olmert is an arrogant little man. 02:19  |  Deborah 12/02/07
  131.   There you are clickfool, did you fix it yet? 02:23  |  bbl 12/02/07
  132.   Repair walkways 04:16  |  William Kinney 12/02/07
  133.   Mr Olmert has no respect for privately owned... 04:24  |  Maureen Ann 12/02/07
  134.   Arab, Jew, Race etc 09:41  |  Cyrus 12/02/07
  135.   #122 Maureen Ann 06:32  |  * BEN JABO 13/02/07
  136.   temple mount 11:15  |  Ike Meneer 13/02/07
  137.   Boyd Americans are grateful to Israel. 14:23  |  Petra 27/09/09
  138.   Dr Gross one correction if I may 14:54  |  Petra McIntyre 27/09/09
  139.   Paulo Lisbon GOOD! The world hates terrorists and that`s the pals 14:57  |  Petra McIntyre 27/09/09
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