Israel bans Sheikh Raed Salah from Al-Quds for 6 months: Movement

By Alaa Rimawi

Israeli authorities have banned the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Raed Salah, from entering the occupied city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) for six months, according to a statement released by the movement.

"Israeli police arrived this afternoon to the home of Sheikh Salah in Umm al-Fahm [in northern Israel] and presented his family with the administrative order," the statement said.

The order, the statement asserted, is part of "a conspiracy aimed at taking the sheikh away from the Al-Aqsa Mosque due to his exposure of the Israeli plots in Jerusalem."

Earlier this month, the Islamic movement warned against Israeli plans to permanently bar Salah from the holy city.

"There is tangible evidence that Israel plans to keep Sheikh Salah out of Jerusalem because his presence exposes Israeli plots against the Al-Aqsa Mosque," movement spokesman Zahi Njeidat told Anadolu Agency.

Njeidat's assertion came after an Israeli court banned Salah – who is widely seen by Palestinians as an icon of resistance against Israeli occupation – from entering the holy city for a two-week period in response to requests by Israeli police.

Israeli police arrested Salah in September on charges of "inciting" his followers against Israel.

The Jerusalem Magistrate Court later ordered Salah's release on bail – set at 50,000 Israeli shekels – on condition that he remain at least 30km from Jerusalem for a period of six months.

Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest site, has recently become the target of repeated violations by Jewish settlers, distressing many Palestinian Muslims.

The Knesset (Israel's parliament) had earlier called for opening the mosque compound to Jews for all Jewish holidays.

Jews refer to Al-Aqsa as the "Temple Mount," claiming the area had been the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

englishnews@aa.com.tr