Members of the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee and Arab Knesset members touring the Temple Mount accused Israel of excavating underneath the holy site.

Delegates also criticized the way Israeli police and the government handled the recent wave of violence in Jerusalem.

During a tour of the Temple Mount Wednesday, Sheik Kamal Rayan, head of the Islamic al-Aqsa Association said the delegation wants to know exactly where the excavations are taking place and why Israel is keeping them secret, Ynetnews.com said.

"The Jews are laying the groundwork and are building synagogues around the mosque and we are kept in the dark and are prevented from entering al-Aqsa," the Web site quoted Rayan saying.

He urged Israel to exercise transparency and prove "our mosque is in no danger," the Web site said.

The officials also blamed Israel for the recent outbreak of violence on the Temple Mount and the clashes between Muslim worshippers and Israeli security forces, the Maariv newspaper said..

Arab Knesset member Taleb A-Sana said the government's treatment of the events "delivers a negative message and proves it has declared war against worshippers praying at al-Aqsa," Maariv reported him saying.

Jerusalem mufti Sheik Mohammed Hussein harshly criticized a decision by Israel Police to restrict the number of Muslim worshippers praying at the Temple Mount in an effort to suppress the violence. "The Israeli occupation showed its true face," the newspaper quoted him saying.

Knesset member Ahmed Tibi said the violent events were the result of attempts by Israel to "judaize" Jerusalem, and evict Arabs from their homes. Tibi also accused Israel of planning to change the status quo on the Temple Mount, Ynetnews.com said.