Israeli excavation work near a compound in Jerusalem that houses al-Aqsa mosque has sparked protests by Palestinians and condemnation from the Jordanian king.

King Abdullah says the dig is a "flagrant violation" of a 1994 peace treaty which recognizes Jordan's "historic role" in overseeing maintenance at Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem.

Israeli assurances that the dig would not harm Islam's third holiest site did little to stifle the anger as at least 11 Palestinians were arrested and crowds threw stones at Israeli soldiers in Bethlehem.

Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister, said Israel was out to cause direct harm to al-Aqsa.

He said: "I appeal to all our Palestinian people to be united and to rise up together to protect al-Aqsa and the holy sites on the blessed land of Palestine."

Aware that the work is likely to inflame tensions, Israeli police had already restricted access to the site, preventing tourists and Palestinian men under the age of 45 from entering.

Speaking earlier on Al Jazeera, Sheikh al-Tamini, a senior Muslim scholar and judge, called on Palestinians to head to al-Aqsa mosque to protect the site.

Muslims who went to the Old City to pray as an act of protest, found their way blocked by police so prayed outside the city gates.

'Volcano of anger'

Fatah, led by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, said in a statement that any damage to the mosque would release Palestinian armed groups from a ceasefire with Israel in the Gaza Strip declared last November.

The governing Hamas movement, whose supporters held a rally in Gaza against the dig, said, "any assault" on the mosque "will lead to a termination of the limited ceasefire" with Israel and would spark "a volcano of anger".

Ali Ayed, Jordan's ambassador to Israel, told state-run Petra news agency: "Jordan has informed Israel of its strong condemnation for the work being carried out by Israel in the Dung Gate area of al-Aqsa mosque.

"This protest and condemnation are based on the religious responsibility Jordan has over the Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem."

In 1996, work to open tunnels nearby sparked clashes which killed 80 Palestinians.

The compound is where the second Palestinian uprising erupted in September 2000 following a controversial visit by Israel's then-opposition leader, Ariel Sharon.

In February 2004, excavation works carried out by Israeli authorities led to the collapse of a part of the path leading to al-Maghareba Gate, one of the mosque's main entrances.

The Israeli government has been conducting exploratory excavation works underneath the al-Aqsa mosque since 1969.

PHOTO CAPTION

Israeli policemen stand guard as excavation work continues in front of the Dome of the Rock Mosque (on the right) in the al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City February 6, 2007. (REUTERS)

Al-Jazeera (summarized)