The Arab League (AL) denounced on Tuesday the Israeli excavations near the Islamic holy shrine in Jerusalem, the official MENA news agency reported.

The denouncement, made by AL Assistant Secretary General for Palestinian and the occupied Arab Lands Affairs Mohammad Sobeih, came after Israel began its digging operations under al-Magharba Gate, which is considered part of the Western Wall of al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest Islamic mosque.

Sobeih said such act represented a violation of all international legitimacy resolutions and Israel's agreements signed with the Palestinian side to preserve the heritage and religious sanctities whether Islamic or Christian.

Sobeih, who is currently in Qatar, asserted that the AL general secretariat has been following up with deep worry the Israeli acts and their recurrent aggression and damage to Islamic and Christian sanctities in Jerusalem.

He called on international organizations concerned, especially UNESCO, the UN Secretary General and the UN Security Council to immediately shoulder their responsibilities and halt the heinous Israeli aggression on one of the holiest Islamic sanctities.

Israeli excavation work started Tuesday near al-Magharba Gate, which is one of the relics of the Arab and Islamic history and its destruction would threaten the foundations of the holy mosque. The operation has stirred wide-spread anger from Arab world.

Source: Xinhua