The Higher Arab Monitoring Committee, an organization of Israeli Arabs, Saturday called on the United Nations to stop Israel's excavation in Jerusalem's Old City, local daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website.

According to the report, the organization convened all Israeli Arab lawmakers and other community leaders for an emergency meeting in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth on Saturday.

Following the meeting, the committee released a statement calling the United Nations, European Union and other countries and organizations to act in a bid to end the controversial excavation in Jerusalem.

"We do not accept the Israeli government's excuses on what is taking place. Israel has no political or legal right to take any action in occupied east Jerusalem," Yedioth Ahronoth cited the statement as reading.

The report said that, during the meeting, it was also decided that the Arab lawmakers will meet with members of the Muslim Waqf, the organization administrating the al-Aqsa mosque compound, on Monday.

A demonstration near the excavation site is planned for the coming days, the report added.

Meanwhile, 15 Palestinians were detained by Israeli police on Saturday as those Palestinian protestors threw stones at the police officers during the protest.

No injuries were reported in all the incidents, said the report.

The clash was a late escalation of a protest launched by Muslims against Israel's excavation near al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site for Muslims.

On Friday, Israeli police used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse Muslim worshippers, who rioted after Friday prayers.

The Israeli Antiquities Authority on Tuesday began a salvage excavation in the Jerusalem Archeological Park, sitting beneath the al-Aqsa Mosque compound, for the purpose of erecting supporting pillars for a permanent and safe bridge leading to the entrance of the compound.

However, the excavation triggered protest among Muslims, who considered it as a damage to al-Aqsa Mosque.

Muslim and Arab countries across the Middle East also have condemned the excavation despite Israel's promise to secure the al- Aqsa Mosque during the construction.

Source: Xinhua