Israel excavation work near shrine fans Muslim ire

JERUSALEM, Jan 30 (Reuters) Israeli excavations near Jerusalem's most sensitive shrine have sparked fury among Muslims who fear such works endanger its foundations, but officials involved say they will not damage the holy site.

Israeli authorities are involved in a few excavation projects near al-Haram al-Sharif, the site of the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque where the biblical Jewish Temples once stood. The Western Wall -- Judaism's holiest site -- overlooks the shrine in the Israeli-annexed old city of Jerusalem.

In the past, Israeli work in the area has triggered violent protests. The opening of an archaeological tunnel near al-Haram al-Sharif triggered Palestinian anger in 1996. Sixty-one Arabs and 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in clashes.

Yesterday, Palestinian militants who claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in the Israeli resort of Eilat, which killed three people, said it was a response to Israeli attempts to ''defile'' al-Aqsa mosque.

In the latest work in the area, Israel unveiled earlier this month an archaeological site near the Western Wall where there are plans to build a new heritage centre.

The Waqf, the Islamic Trust which administers al-Haram al-Sharif, says the work has weakened structures in the area.

But Arieh Banner, an official with Israel's Western Wall Heritage Foundation, a government-created body which runs the site, said there was no chance it would cause damage.

''The site is at least 60 metres from the Wall,'' he said.

''Everything is being done and planned with engineers.'' Al Aqsa Brigades spokesman Abu Qusai accused Israel of carrying out building work underneath the mosque as well as continued archaeological digging in the area, which could undermine the foundations of the mosque.

''The attack was in response to the continued Israeli aggression and the attempts to defile the al-Aqsa mosque,'' Abu Qusai said. The militants added the Eilat attack was just the beginning of operations ''in defence of al-Aqsa''.

Israeli government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said in response: ''Palestinian terror organisations never lack a reason to attack innocent civilians wherever they can. This is why we are always on guard against their activities.'' Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Jewish holy sites in Israel, said there were no plans to excavate under al-Haram al-Sharif, known to Jews as Temple Mount.

''There is no such plan as this. There has not been any such plan,'' he told Reuters. ''Any work that is being done is far away from the Temple Mount. There is no doubt about that.'' SYNAGOGUE AND BRIDGE Israel captured East Jerusalem in the 1967 West Asia war and later annexed it, a step that has not been recognised internationally. Palestinians want the eastern part of the city as the capital of a future state.

In recent days there has growing Muslim anger at reports of a plan by Jews to build a synagogue near to al-Aqsa Mosque.

Last week the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the world's largest Muslim body, warned of ''dire consequences'' of such a move. But Israeli officials said they were renovating an existing synagogue and had no plans to build a new one.

''We are not speaking about a new synagogue, but the renovation of a synagogue which was established before 1967 and one which is far away from the Temple Mount,'' Rabinowitz said.

Archaeologists also recently began excavation work on a new plan to build a bridge for visitors to reach al-Haram al-Sharif from the Western Wall, which has also caused controversy.

The bridge, which would touch part of the Western Wall, is intended to replace a temporary wooden one built after a 2004 earthquake damaged the foundations of an existing ramp.

Yuval Baruch, Jerusalem district archaeologist, said initial excavation work was only just beginning and all precautions were being taken to ensure no damage to the area.

Due to its sensitivity, the project is under the coordination of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office.

''Everyone is aware that the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, any construction, any excavations are sensitive issues,'' said Eisin. ''It is being taken care of to avoid events like we had in 1996 with the opening of the tunnel.'' REUTERS PB MIR RAI0830