Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday pledged to take part in the Jewish excavation works beneath Al-Aqsa Mosque, Quds Net reported.

His pledge comes in response to UNESCO’s final adoption of a resolution which denies any Jewish links to Al-Aqsa Mosque. Netanyahu severely criticised the international body and accused it of ignoring attacks carried out by Daesh against world heritage sites.

He also stressed that his government would offer all efforts needed to carry out the excavation works.

The government called searching for Jewish links to Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem a “national mission”. They agreed to approve a plan to ensure all Israeli citizens take part in the excavation works prior to their compulsory military conscription.

Director of the Israeli Authority of Antiquities, Yisrael Hasson, said that his authority had decided in cooperation with the government that every Israeli youth has to take part in the excavation works before joining the Israeli army.

Hasson also said that his authority would cooperate with El-Ad organisation, which is an extremist Jewish body devoted to carrying out excavations under Al-Aqsa Mosque, seeking to find Jewish links to the holy site.