JERUSALEM - Jewish extremists are plotting to take over a disputed holy site in Jerusalem in a bid to sabotage Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza, an Israeli television station reported Wednesday.
Channel Two showed a video of the plotters, including rabbis and far-right extremists, in a meeting to discuss ways to occupy the site which is known as the Temple Mount to the Jews and the Noble Sanctuary for the Muslims.
The meeting took place at a secret location inside the Old City, where the site is also located, and involved representatives from 30 groups, the television said.
"We must conquer the Temple Mount to abort the withdrawal plan. If 50,000 people go to the Temple Mount, our Father in heaven will see and the (Israeli) institutions will not be able to remain indifferent," said one participant.
The participants discussed whether to stage the action before or after the start of the planned pullout of Israeli troops and settlers from Gaza that is due to be launched in July and last three to four weeks.
They are to hold a "dress rehearsal" on the Temple Mount, or the Jerusalem mosques complex that is the third holiest site for Muslims, in three weeks time, according to the television report.
Dozens of police reinforcements were deployed around the compound in mid-February for fear of an attack by Jewish extremists trying to sabotage Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's Gaza plan.
03/16/2005 20:37 GMT