Israel frees Islamic Movement leader

Israeli authorities on Wednesday freed Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement inside Israel, after a one-day detention, movement spokesman Zahi Njeidat has confirmed. "Salah was released, but he did not sign an Israeli order banning him from entering Al-Quds [Jerusalem]," Njeidat said. "He rejected the Israeli order altogether and told Israeli police that he retained the right to enter the city whenever he feels like it," added the spokesman. Following his release, Salah headed to his hometown of Umm al-Fahm, Njeidat said. On Tuesday, Israeli forces arrested Sheikh Salah – known for his tireless activism in defense of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Al-Quds – on charges of "incitement against Israel." Salah had been preparing for "Mobilization Day" in Jerusalem, where he had been scheduled to deliver a Wednesday speech. The Islamic Movement had urged all Muslims in Israel-occupied territories to flock to Al-Aqsa Mosque to protect the holy site against plans by Jewish settlers to storm it on Wednesday, which marked the "Jewish New Year." The Islamic Movement campaigns for the rights of Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin who refer to themselves as "Arabs of 1948." It fights anti-Arab discrimination, home demolitions and arbitrary expulsions, while also campaigning for Palestinian refugees' right to return to Palestine.