Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday called on Arabs not to be deceived by "lies" about Israel digging under the Temple Mount.
Speaking during Monday's cabinet meeting about last week's Arab riots in Jerusalem, the prime minister said, "Extreme elements spread lies, saying we were planning to dig under the Temple Mount. I want to clarify that this is a lie - it is imaginary."
On Sunday meanwhile, it was announced that an agreement reached between the Israeli and Jordanian governments had allowed for a number of Muslim worshipers, who had reportedly been holed up inside Al-Aksa Mosque since the beginning of the tensions more than a week ago, to leave without being arrested.
Senior Israeli diplomatic officials said on Sunday that in addition to Jordan, other international bodies were involved in mediating last week to get the group on the Temple Mount out quietly and without arrests. The goal, the official said, was to calm the situation on the Temple Mount and not allow last week's tensions to spiral out of control. The official said Israel received "quiet" in return for allowing the group to leave the Temple Mount compound. RELATEDWary quiet returns to east J'lem as Al-Aksa restrictions lifted
In addition to Jordan, the UN - through its Mideast envoy Robert Serry - was also involved in the mediation efforts that led to the deal. While Palestinian sources had claimed that hundreds of worshipers had been inside the mosque, police on Sunday said that only a few dozen such worshipers had been there, and had left on Friday.
Police on Sunday also lifted the week-long restrictions on Muslim worshipers under the age of 50 from entering the site, and reopened the area to visitors, after Succot concluded Saturday night.
Herb Keinon contributed to this report
