Jordan's 14 opposition parties on Wednesday urged the government to cut diplomatic ties with Israel over the Jewish state's excavation work near an Islamic holy site.

"Condemnation is insufficient, because this enemy does not understand anything except the logic of force and deterrence," the opposition parties said in a statement.

Israel started Tuesday excavation work near an entrance to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem, Islam's third holiest site.

Muslims across the Middle East have condemned Israel's move since it announced the start of the excavation, fearing it would damage the compound.

Some Arab countries have also expressed their concern that the excavation could undermine the peace efforts in the region.

Jordan's King Abdullah II on Tuesday condemned the Israeli excavation work, while the Jordanian ambassador in Tel Aviv, Ali Al Ayed submitted an official objection and condemnation against the move.

The Israeli government did not respond to the protest and continued construction work on Wednesday.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority on Tuesday defended the construction work, saying it was only building a safe bridge to the compound, which would cause no damage to the site.

The Jordanian Trade Unions said they were planning a sit-in Wednesday to protest the Israeli activity.

Source: Xinhua