From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Israel outlaws, shuts offices of Arab reconciliation body headed by Islamist Raed Salah
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Security forces shuttered the offices of reconciliation committees in the Arab city of Umm al-Fahm earlier today, citing Islamist ties, says a police spokesman.
Police and Shin Bet raided the committees’ offices and arrested their head, Sheikh Raed Salah, but released him later today.
The “peace spreading” committees are an initiative of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, a leading umbrella organization among Israel’s Arab minority. Established by Salah in 2017, the committees operate with the stated goal of curbing violence in Arab society by mediating between feuding families.
Israeli police arrest prominent Palestinian figure Sheikh Raed Salah after searching his home and office in his hometown of Umm al-Fahm in northern Israel, according to his lawyer https://t.co/f2dIqVZxgR pic.twitter.com/pHaU32FFj5
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) January 28, 2025
The raid comes after a decision by Defense Minister Israel Katz to outlaw the reconciliation program, citing its links to the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, which Salah heads.
Israel declared the northern branch of the movement illegal in 2015 over repeated incitement to terrorism.
Two years later, police arrested Salah and he was convicted of incitement to terror. He was released in 2021, and continues to lead the reconciliation committees.
The Times of Israel Community.