Police officials said Tuesday that Knesset members will not be permitted to visit the Temple Mount compound on Thursday, which is Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples, Israel Radio reported.

The officials made the announcement in response to recent statements by right-wing MKs that they intended to visit the disputed religious site in the Old City of Jerusalem. Late last month, police suspended visits by Jews and Christians to the holy site due to fear of Palestinian riots.

"Immunity doesn't open locked doors," a senior Jerusalem district police official said, referring to the parliamentary immunity MKs enjoy.

The police move in July to suspend visits by non-Muslims came in response to Palestinian anger at a decision earlier this month to ease restrictions on Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount that were halted in September 2000 after the outbreak of violence that accompanied Ariel Sharon's controversial visit to the site, which is holy to Jews and Muslims.

Palestinians say Sharon's visit sparked the Al-Aqsa Intifada, named for the mosque on the mount.

Israeli officials have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks that violence could erupt at the holy site, as the matter has received widespread coverage in the Palestinian media and has also drawn harsh comments from Palestinian public figures, specifically Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat, who has warned of "grave consequences" if Israel continued to allow Jews to visit the Temple Mount...