Leaders of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in
Israel were arrested early Tuesday morning. According to
Israeli government spokesman, they funneled millions of
shekels to the militant Hamas movement, "oiling the wheels of
murderous terrorism." The move appears to be a new Israeli
emphasis on Israeli Arabs involved in terror. Up until now
Israel has not mounted any large scale operations against
Israeli Arabs.
The head of the organization, Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, was among
13 detained in the raid in the northern Israeli Arab city of
Umm al-Fahm at around 1 A.M. In the offices of the Al-Aqsa
Association security officials confiscated documents and
equipment. Two more suspects were arrested on Tuesday morning
and police said further arrests were expected.
A spokesman for the Islamic Movement denied that any of the
funds collected and distributed by the group had been
transferred to Hamas.
Public Security Minister Tzachi Hanegbi said the evidence
uncovered against the 14 "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.
"The transfer of these monies was camouflaged in the
framework of charity funds and humanitarian aid, but its
practical significance was in oiling the wheels of murderous
terrorism that has killed more than 640 innocent Israelis in
the last two and a half years," Hanegbi said.
The Islamic Movement in Israel, particularly its more extreme
northern branch under the leadership of Sheikh Ra'ad Salah,
had been targeted for some time by defense agencies.
More than two years ago there was support for outlawing the
northern branch. Support for doing so now is growing among
ministers whose offices deal with the movement and in the
defense establishment. Outlawing the movement would mean it
could not hold rallies or issue publications and its offices
would be closed in Israeli Arab townships. The movement would
be barred from running candidates for public office.
For some time, security sources have claimed that the
movement's leadership has been involved in incitement against
the state and its official institutions. But the greatest
fear is the movement serving as a channel for funds from
overseas and the Arab sector to go to Islamic organizations
in the territories. The funds are said to be used for
humanitarian purposes, but the security establishment has
evidence that much money ends up in the hands of terror
groups.
The Islamic Movement, the largest Israeli Arab organization,
is divided into two branches. Its southern branch is more
pragmatic and participates in Israel's political life, while
the northern branch is more radical and has come out in
support of Hamas.
Recently, for the first time, intelligence information had
implicated senior Islamic Movement officials as actively
helping terrorism. In several cases, Israeli Arabs involved
in terror were members of the Islamic Movement. In most
cases, the suspects were paid to transport suicide bombers
from the territories into Israel to their targets, but there
have been cases in which Israeli Arabs provided help in
preparing terror attacks.
