Israel's Shin Bet security service has raised the level of alert in Jerusalem amid intelligence that extremist Jews have plans to carry out an attack on Al Aqsa Mosque.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Islamic Movement's northern branch, which has made protection of the Al-Aqsa mosque the centerpiece of its activities, has urged Israeli Arab Muslims to flock to the east City site to protect it from Jewish extremists.
Israeli police on Wednesday announced plans to close al Aqsa Mosque compound to Jews on Sunday, when a right-wing extremist group called was planning to hold a mass rally there.
Also Wednesday, Israel's Justice Minister Tsipi Livni acknowledged that there are serious differences between Tel Aviv and Washington over Jewish settlement expansion. The issue was raised after Israeli officials declared plans to build 3,650 homes around the largest West Bank settlement, Maaleh Adumim, linking it to Jerusalem.
According to The AP, the subject is likely to come up when Sharon meets President Bush early next week.
"It seems that the debate is more over whether Israel can expand the perimeters of these communities, and certainly from an American viewpoint, as well, Israel can build within them," Livni told Army Radio. "There apparently will be disputes with the Americans over this."
