The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday sentenced Sheikh Raid Salah, the head of the Israel Islamic Association northern branch to nine months in prison for assaulting a policeman three years ago.

The court made a point of highlighting the sentence may appears harsh but this is because of the severity of the offense. The sheikh was also fined NIS 7,500.

Speaking to reporters, Salah stated, “the court does not frighten us and we will remove the occupation from al-Aqsa”, referring to Har HaBayis.

Salah is no stranger to confrontation and courtrooms, for he regularly expresses his disdain for the Israeli government and Jewish state, openly pronouncing his anti-Israel pro-Islamic fundamentalist agenda, one that does not include a future for the Jewish State.

He has been investigated on numerous occasions for activities connecting his organization’s funding of terrorist organizations.

Responding to the announced sentence, Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovitch stated the sentence was most significant, sending a clear message, that assaults against law-enforcement officials will not be tolerated.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)