Israel outlaws northern branch of Islamic Movement

Israel’s security cabinet has declared the radical northern branch of the Israeli Muslim Movement, headed by Sheikh Raad Saleh, an illegal association. The decision was kept under wraps so as not to impede the investigation into the organization’s activities in relation to the latest outbreak of Palestinian terrorist activity that was initially sparked by clashes on Temple Mount. It had immediate effect. Saleh was summoned for questioning, along with his deputies Sheikh Kamal Katib and Dr. Salman Abu Ahmad; who is in charge of the organization’s Jerusalem and the Al Aqsa Mosque file. Members, activists and agents of the northern branch will henceforth be held guilty of criminal activity and face incarceration. The law empowers the state to confiscate the organization’s assets.