Temple Mount visit stirs anger

JERUSALEM, June 23 (UPI) -- Israel's internal security minister toured the Temple Mount Tuesday generating a harsh response from Muslim officials who called the visit provocative.

Minister Yitzhak Aharonivitch's tour of Temple Mount and al-Aqsa mosque was to determine if police deployment in the area was adequate, Ynetnews.com reported Tuesday.

The site is considered the third holiest site in Islam and the holiest place in the world for Jews.

The minister was accompanied by Israel's police commissioner and senior police officers during the entire visit, which lasted two hours, the Web site said.

Arab parliamentarian Taleb al-Saana accused Aharonovitch of trying to ignite the situation, the site said.

"If the purpose of this visit is to provoke Muslims and try to show them who is in charge then he is trying to ignite a war and he will face the consequences," al-Saana said.