Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6

[Tinoire]

Olmert spurns bid to reconsider Jerusalem dig

By Jeffrey Heller
Thu Feb 8, 9:52 AM ET

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has spurned a call by his defense minister to consider halting excavations near Jerusalem's most sacred Islamic shrine that have angered Muslims, an official said on Thursday.

The dig, outside a compound housing the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa mosque, has exposed the depth of Arab suspicions over Israeli activities in Arab East Jerusalem and the simmering tensions between Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz.

Arab states have asked Israel to halt the work at Islam's third holiest shrine, charging it could damage the mosque's foundations. Palestinian militants have threatened to end a three-month old Gaza truce with Israel.

Israel said the holy places would not be harmed by what it called an attempt, mandated by law, to salvage artifacts before construction of a pedestrian bridge leading to the complex known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount.

An Israeli official, confirming a report in the Haaretz newspaper, said Peretz, leader of Olmert's main coalition partner, the centre-left Labor Party, had sent a written appeal to the prime minister asking for the project to be reassessed.

"Our problem with the work at the Temple Mount ... is its effect on our relations with important, moderate elements in the Arab world who are very angered by it," Labor's Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh told Israel Radio.

(snip)

Israeli media have been rife with reports that Olmert wants to replace the former trade union chief, who has little military experience, and appoint former Prime Minister Ehud Barak as defense minister.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, on Thursday condemned the Israeli excavations as a provocation and appealed for international intervention to stop them. "The kingdom expresses its condemnation of these aggressive Israeli actions," state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted an official as saying.

(snip)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070208/...ns_shrine_dc_6