(Ha'aretz) - Amos Harel and Yair Ettinger The head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, was among 15 detained by police Tuesday for funneling millions of shekels to the militant Hamas movement, "oiling the wheels of murderous terrorism," according to Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi. Hanegbi said the evidence "proves that the suspects engaged in the illegal transfer of millions of shekels from abroad, from illegal NGOs and companies, to activities of the Hamas in Judea and Samaria and also in the Gaza Strip...camouflaged in the framework of charity funds and humanitarian aid." More than two years ago, high-ranking Shin Bet officials expressed support for outlawing the northern branch. Over the last two years there has been a sharp rise in the number of Israeli Arabs arrested as suspects in terror activities, who in several cases were members of the Islamic Movement.
2003-05-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive