BICOM

The leader of the illegal northern branch of the Islamic Movement was arrested early on Tuesday morning for inciting acts of terrorism.

A joint investigation into Sheikh Raed Salah by the Shin Bet security agency and the police, instigated by Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, found that “on several occasions… the inciter made public comments relating to the movement’s worldview,” the police said. In a speech at the funeral of the three Arab-Israelis who shot and killed two police officers at the Temple Mount last month, Salah praised the attackers and encouraged others to follow their example.

Following his arrest in the Mahajina neighbourhood of Umm al-Fahm, the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court ordered that Salah be remanded in custody for an additional three days. At the hearing, security officials said they had evidence that individuals were planning to commit terrorist attacks as a result of statements made by Salah. Salah called the hearing “an expression to the continued persecution of our public by the Israeli government” and accused the court of “prosecuting the Quran”.

In 2011, Salah was detained in London for ignoring a travel ban issued by then Home Secretary Theresa May. Salah had been due to attend a high profile event at the House of Commons arranged by then backbench Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, who in 2012 described the Islamic leader as “a very honoured citizen” whose “voice must be heard”.

In November 2015, the Security Cabinet declared the northern branch of the Islamic Movement an illegal organisation. The movement rejects the Oslo accords and is connected to Hamas.
Salah was released from prison in January after serving nine months, following being convicted for inciting violence in a sermon he delivered in 2007. He has previously suggested that Jewish people were responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York and use blood when baking Matzah bread for Passover.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that “Salah expressed himself in a way that encouraged extremism and murder” and “posed a threat to the public”.