Court imposes restrictions on Salah in Jerusalem

The court ruled, however, that Salah would be forbidden from entering public places in Jerusalem with more than eight other people.

The court hearing was short. At first, Salah refused to sign the conditions set by the court, but eventually agreed.

"This decision is ridiculous. The judge made this decision as a way out after watching the film presented by Sheikh Salah's lawyers, which showed that he did not attack, did not riot, did not resist the arrest and did not kick police officers," Attorney Zahi Nujidat, spokesman for the movement's northern branch, told Ynet in response.

"The film clearly shows that the police started the whole thing with stun grenades. This is a act initiated by the Israel Police in order to bring about a decision to distance the sheikh as much as possible from al-Quds (Jerusalem's Old city). We will continue our just and legitimate battle. We shall not be deterred."

Sheikh Ra'ed Salah arrested by police (Photo: Haim Zach)

Sheikh Salah was arrested Wednesday afternoon by police and Border Guard forces along with another demonstrator. According to the police, the two were demonstrating in Jerusalem's Wadi Joz neighborhood in protest of the ongoing excavation works near the Temple Mount. The two were also suspected of inciting violence along with several other activists.

'Duty of every Arab is to launch an intifada'

Attorney General Menachem Mazuz recently ordered a criminal investigation against Salah on suspicion of inciting violence, inciting racism and rebellion. The investigation was launched following Salah's remarks during a rally held in Nazareth last month, and remarks he made a week earlier at the Temple Mount.

According to information received by the State Prosecutor's Office, Salah said that "now the duty of every Arab and Muslim is to launch an intifada from one end to another in order to save Jerusalem and the al-Aqsa Mosque."

He also said, "We are not the ones who allowed ourselves to eat a meal based on bread and cheese in children's blood."

Another statement which led to the decision to launch an investigation was that "the ranks on officers' soldiers are made of the sculls of shahids (martyrs) and this is the measure of a promotion in the Israeli institution. One who murders more is promoted… Don’t bet on the fate of the Jewish people and don’t sacrifice your next generations… The most beautiful moment of our lives will be when we meet Allah as shahids at the al-Aqsa Mosque."

The international community’s interest in the archeological dig Israel is conducting at Jerusalem’s Mugrabi gate is not waning.

The website providing live footage of the dig has recorded more than 210,000 entries over the past three weeks. Most of the site's visitors were in the United States, although a fair amount also came from the Muslim world, headed by Turkey, which was soon to send an envoy to investigate the dig.

Since controversy around the dig erupted and enraged the Muslim world, the number of American visitors to the site reached 66,809, according to a report received at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Israel’s contribution to the number of entries was less than half that, at 31,475, while Turkey had 19,609 visitors to the site as of Monday. 

Roee Nahmias contributed to the report