Israel's internal security minister went to a Jerusalem shrine which is holy to both Jews and Muslims today, angering Muslim clerics who described the visit as a provocation.
The Internal Security Ministry said the minister, Mr Tsahi Hanegbi, spent 30 minutes at the site which is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, Judaism's holiest shrine, and revered by Muslims as the al-Haram al-Sharif, one of Islam's holiest sites.
It said in a statement that Mr Hanegbi, accompanied by deputy internal security minister Mr Michael Ratzon and senior police officers, inspected police preparations for a festival marking the fasting month of Ramadan that begins next week.
The site in Jerusalem's walled old city has been a flashpoint between Israelis and Palestinians, but the visit ended without any violence.
Sheikh Hussein al-Khatib, director of the Waqf Islamic religious trust, complained Hanegbi had entered the compound of the al-Aqsa mosque without the Waqf's approval.
"This is a provocative visit and an attempt to take over our responsibilities," Sheikh Khatib said.
The Waqf, in charge of the holy compound since 1967, said it had barred non-Muslims from the mosque after a visit by Ariel Sharon, then Israel's opposition leader and now prime minister, which was followed by clashes in September, 2000.
The Israeli government decided this summer to allow Jews and tourists into the compound despite the Waqf's objections. The Internal Security Ministry said Hanegbi's visit also marked the period since the site was opened to Jews and tourists.
The Palestinians began an uprising for statehood in September 2000. The Palestinians say Mr Sharon's visit triggered the uprising. Israel denies this.