Sheikh Raed Salah
Photo: Hagai Aharon
Muslim cleric indicted for incitement over Mount works
Leader of Islamic Movement and four others indicted on public disorder charges and attacking police during riots over constructions near the Temple Mount last Wednesday
One of the heads of Israel's Islamic Movement has been indicted on public disorder charges and attacking police during riots near the Temple Mount last
Wednesday over renovation works there.
An indictment has been filed at the Jerusalem Magistrates' Court against five Arab Israelis, including the leader of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah.
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According to the indictment, the five held an illegal gathering during which they attempted to force their way onto the construction site, scuffled with and cursed a policemen.
'You are racists and murderers'
Muslims have been angered by plans to rebuild a bridge leading to the Mugrabi Gate near the Temple Mount, prompting the Mayor of Jerusalem Uri Lupoliansky to suspend the project. The government voted in favor of pursuing the construction work on Sunday.
At one stage during the rampage, Sheikh Salah ordered his accomplices to sit in the middle of the road to block traffic. Salah has also been accused of spitting in the face of a Border Guard policeman and curing him.
"You are racists and murderers, and have no honor," Salah allegedly told the policeman.
Another accomplice has been accused of scuffling with a policeman who tried to break up the fight between his colleague and Sheikh Salah.
Police demanded that the defendants be issued 60-day expulsion orders, banning them from being closer than 150 meters from the contours of the Old City.
Protests over the works continued on Monday with a group of Arab youths hurling stones at a car on the Mount of Olives and injuring two people.
A policewoman was lightly injured in East Jerusalem when youths hurled stones and Molotov cocktails at a police patrol.
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
