Israeli police arrest leader of Islamic Movement

Israeli police on Tuesday arrested the head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel on the charge that he incited riots, following days of clashes around Jerusalem's holiest site, known as Temple Mount to Jews or al-Haram al-Sharif to Palestinians.

Sheikh Raed Salah was arrested during a meeting with his organization's members in East Jerusalem, local daily the Jerusalem Post reported.

Earlier Tuesday, Salah said he and his organization would keep fighting against Israel's occupation of the holy city after several Israeli ministers called on to arrest him and outlaw the Islamic Movement.

He and his supporters "would pay any price to defend the Al-Aqsa (Mosque)" in Jerusalem, Israel Radio quoted Salah as saying.

The tension around the mount in East Jerusalem remains high Tuesday, where Palestinians and Israeli police clashed since Sunday when Israeli police decided to restrict the male Muslim worshippers allowed to enter the area to those over 50.

Israel Police on Tuesday deployed some 20,000 policemen to keep order as about tens of thousands of people joined in the annual march in Jerusalem.

Israeli Vice Premier Silvan Shalom earlier in the day accused the Islamic Movement of provoking violence, and told Israel Radio that Salah should be arrested.

However, senior Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan blamed the Israelis of making troubles in Jerusalem, saying Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "tries to blow up the situation in Jerusalem to evade negotiations with Palestinians."

The fate of the holy site has become a toughest topic for the talks between Israelis and Palestinians.

Most Israeli Jews see the mount as part and parcel of a unified Israeli capital. However, the Palestinians, backed by the Muslim world and the United Nations, see the area as an occupied territory, which they say is destined to be a part of the capital of a future Palestinian sate.

Source: Xinhua