Adnan Husseini, the Waqf's director, said he was concerned the new walkway could damage the original ramp up to the compound's Mugrabi Gate. The ramp, he said was Waqf property and the new construction constituted a violation of the site.
"This is a very dangerous project that will damage things of great historical value in this very sensitive place," Husseini said.
Husseini said he suspected that the excavations around the holy site were attempts to tunnel under it, and demanded that Israel cease all digs immediately.
"We call for an end to all excavations," he said.
Osnat Goaz, a spokeswoman for the Israel Antiquities Authority, rejected claims that the excavations posed any danger to the holy site.
"None of these digs are close to the Temple Mount," Goaz said. "The Israel Antiquities Authority has not dug, is not digging and will not dig underneath the Temple Mount."
Jordan, which has a custodial role over the site, expressed concern about the work there, according to the kingdom's official Petra news agency.
Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Judeh quoted Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit as saying that the dig was "a big concern to Jordan, its king, people and government," Petra reported.
Al-Bakhit urged experts to "follow up the issue and use all diplomatic channels to avoid any threat which could harm the safety and the identity of Al-Aqsa mosque," Petra reported.
