Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu wants to gain control of the Temple Mount and rebuild the Temple, said the leader of the Islamic Movement's northern branch Sheikh Raed Salah. The Islamic leader’s comments came during a Wednesday speech to Muslim students at Haifa University.

During the speech Salah accused the Israeli government of constantly digging tunnels under the Temple Mount and the al-Aqsa Mosque, and said that Netanyahu was planning to complete during his current term what he did not complete during his first one. Salah was invited to speak by a students' organization affiliated with the movement.