RAMALLAH, August 17 (JMCC) - Palestinians condemned Monday an Israeli plan to build a massive elevator for tourists to the Western wall plaza at Jerusalem's sensitive holy sites.

The plan, originally reported in the Israeli daily Maariv, is to build an elevator to carry visitors the 56 meters from the Jewish Quarter to the Jewish holy sit in Jerusalem's Old City.

The project is slated to cost $10 million and will be paid for by Jewish American Baruch Klein.

A Palestinian organization, the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Endowment and Heritage, said in a statement that the planned renovations will divide the al-Aqsa compound, increase the number of Israelis in the compound area, and create a base for police operations.

Changes to Jerusalem's holy sites threaten to destabilize the political situation, altering a delicate status quo and inflaming passions.