News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Knesset Member Mohammed Barakeh expressed his anger Sunday morning at a decision reached by the government to allow renewal of a dig at the Rambam (Mughrabi) Gate near the Western Wall. The Arab Israeli Hadash party lawmaker condemned the dig, which is being resumed after violent protests by Muslims pressured the government into halting the project.

Islamic religious leaders whipped their followers into frenzy by claiming the project would damage the walls of the Al Aksa mosque near the site, despite the fact that inspection by local and international experts found no evidence to back the claim.

The dig is being carried out in preparation for construction of a new footbridge leading to the Temple Mount to replace one that was broken and dangerous. The construction site is 60 meters away from the entrance to the Temple Mount and engineers have emphasized there is no danger to the mosque.