For example, this charge was made in 2006 when Muslim leaders accused Israel of digging underneath the mosque. [2]The most prominent excavation site in the vicinity of the Temple Mount is the Western Wall Tunnels, which were opened in 1996. The tunnels are not under the Temple Mount itself and are certainly nowhere near the Al-Aqsa Mosque. [6] In addition, archaeological activities at sites such as the Temple Mount, which are legally defined as holy sites, require approval of the Ministerial Committee for Holy Places, which consists of the Ministers of Justice, Education and Religious Affairs. [9]Ultimately, it is not Israel that threatens the foundations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque or any holy sites under its control.

Source: Los Angeles Times February 15, 2024 11:14 UTC