Muslim prayer room 'discovered'

Occupied Jerusalem: The site of an Israeli archaeological dig that sparked angry Muslim reaction worldwide contains what could be a Muslim prayer room, an Israeli archaeologist said on Sunday.

Muslim leaders and critics of the dig said the announcement of the find, three years after it was discovered, confirmed their fears that Israel's Antiquities Authority is intent on hiding Muslim attachment to the site.

In an article published recently on the authority's website, Occupied Jerusalem district archaeologist Yuval Baruch described the ruins that were discovered after the snowstorm three years ago.

He wrote, "In 2004, when the Mughrabi ramp collapsed, a small room was discovered which contained an alcove covered with a dome, a kind of Muslim prayer niche, facing south. Some suggest that these are the remains of a prayer room that was part of a madrasa (a Muslim religious school) which operated near the Mughrabi gate."

Adnan Hussein, chairman of the Muslim council that oversees affairs at the holy site, expressed anger that Israel withheld news of the discovery for three years. He said, "We didn't hear anything about this. They are always hiding things."

Baruch said the authority decided not to reveal the existence of the room sooner since it still is not clear what it was. He said finds in and around the room need further research before authorities can say exactly what the room was used for.

Israel began work nearly two weeks ago on a ramp leading to a disputed holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

Israel says the project is needed to repair damage to the ramp caused by a 2004 snowstorm, and the dig won't affect Muslim holy sites on the nearby hilltop compound. However, Muslim leaders accuse Israel of plotting to destroy Islamic holy places.