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| Israel to continue holy site work | Israel to continue holy site work |
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| The Israeli cabinet has ordered controversial construction work near a Jerusalem holy site to continue. | The Israeli cabinet has ordered controversial construction work near a Jerusalem holy site to continue. |
| Violence flared last week over digging work near the al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site. | Violence flared last week over digging work near the al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site. |
| The compound is also revered by Jews as the site of their biblical temples, and therefore the holiest site in Judaism. | |
| Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the work was essential to repair a dangerous structure and would not affect the mosque compound in any way. | Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the work was essential to repair a dangerous structure and would not affect the mosque compound in any way. |
| Earlier, the Arab League described the work as a criminal attack on a holy site and asked the United Nations to intervene. | Earlier, the Arab League described the work as a criminal attack on a holy site and asked the United Nations to intervene. |
| Plan of the holy sites | Plan of the holy sites |
| Dozens of people were hurt on Friday when police moved in to quell violent protests against excavation work at the contested site. | Dozens of people were hurt on Friday when police moved in to quell violent protests against excavation work at the contested site. |
| On Sunday, 2,000 police were out on the streets braced for a third straight day of demonstrations. | On Sunday, 2,000 police were out on the streets braced for a third straight day of demonstrations. |
| SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sites Where archaeology is politics Why issue runs deep | SACRED TO MUSLIMS Site of Prophet Muhammad's first prayers and ascent into Heaven, home to al-Aqsa mosque and Dome of the Rock SACRED TO JEWS Site of first and second Temples and the rock on which Abraham offered his son as a sacrifice Clickable guide to holy sites Where archaeology is politics Why issue runs deep |
| "Work will continue because it is a question of fixing a dangerous situation," Mr Olmert said at his weekly cabinet meeting, according to army radio. | "Work will continue because it is a question of fixing a dangerous situation," Mr Olmert said at his weekly cabinet meeting, according to army radio. |
| "The building site is not on the mosque compound and does not offend the sensitivities of Muslims." | "The building site is not on the mosque compound and does not offend the sensitivities of Muslims." |
| The excavations, which began on Tuesday, are a prelude to the construction of a new walkway leading to the compound. | The excavations, which began on Tuesday, are a prelude to the construction of a new walkway leading to the compound. |
| Israeli authorities say the work is needed after a centuries-old walkway partially collapsed in 2004. | Israeli authorities say the work is needed after a centuries-old walkway partially collapsed in 2004. |
| The compound, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war - has regularly been a flashpoint for violence. | The compound, in the Old City in East Jerusalem - an area captured by Israel during the 1967 Middle East war - has regularly been a flashpoint for violence. |
| In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. | In 1996, Israel's opening of an exit to a tunnel near the site triggered riots in which 80 people died in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops. |
| And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon. | And in 2000, the Palestinian uprising began at the mosque following a controversial tour of the site by Israel's then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon. |
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