By Jack Khoury, Haaretz – 21 Dec 2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1136632.html
The GOC Home Front Command, Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, on Monday banned the head of the northern branch of Israel’s Islamic Movement from entering Jerusalem for three weeks.
In a statement issued on Monday, the army said: “The order was issued based on information presented by security officials and with the authorization of the political echelon.”
The IDF Spokespersons’ Unit said Golan issued the order against Sheikh Ra’ad Salah “on the grounds of ensuring the security of the State of Israel and maintaining public peace and order.”
Salah was convicted in November of assaulting a police officer during a 2007 protest in Jerusalem. He was also arrested in October on suspicion of having incited to violence during a speech about clashes between Palestinians and Israeli police on the Temple Mount.
The Islamic Movement head will be able to appeal the ban during its duration, the IDF said, adding that officials would consider extending the order for an additional six months.
