[Ma'an] Israeli military authorities issued on Monday an order banning Sheikh Raed Saleh, leader of Israel's Islamic movement, from entering Jerusalem for six months. Saleh was summoned to the police station in Wadi Ara where he was handed the order. He was presented with a similar order limiting his freedom of movement three weeks prior, which expired on Monday. The new order was attached with a colored map designating the areas off-limits for the sheikh.
"We will reserve the permanent and perpetual right to enter the city of Jerusalem at any moment, without permission from anyone. At the same time, the evidence gathered confirms that 2010 will be a year of a fateful decision on the present and future of occupied Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, especially if we connect these orders with the occupation's false attacks, aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem and their plans to destruct Al Aqsa Mosque," Saleh said in a statement.
Zahi Njedat, a lawyer representing the Islamic Movement, said the decision to ban the sheikh from entering Jerusalem was unjustified. "Israel's decision is invalid because the Israeli occupation's presence in Jerusalem is invalid, and what is based on falsehood is false."
"Hence, we say to you, that Sheikh Raed Salah retains his right to enter the city of Jerusalem when he deems it ... and know that your military orders and sham courts will not deter us and will not prevent us from communicating with Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa Mosque or our people, the Jerusalemites."