Excavations at the site of the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate near the Western Wall are to be renewed within the coming days, despite concern by the Foreign Ministry that the move will affect next month’s Mideast summit in Annapolis, Maryland.

The Prime Minister’s Office said there was no objection to resuming work on the dig, which is to precede construction of a new pedestrian ramp leading to the entrance of the Temple Mount to replace one that was broken and dangerous. The Ministerial Committee on Jerusalem approved the renewal approximately two weeks ago, a decision that was endorsed by Ministers Avi Dichter, Rafi Eitan and Yaakov Edery. The construction site is located some 60 meters away from the Al Aksa Mosque at the Temple Mount.

Construction of the pedestrian bridge was halted in June after the Islamic Wakf Authority and Arabs around the world fiercely expressed their objections to the construction in violent demonstrations, claiming the work would damage the mosque.  Israeli engineers inspected the site, as did international representatives; none found any damage to the Islamic structure.