Israel bans senior Islamic Movement official from travel

Deputy Chief of the Islamic Movement in Israel Sheikh Kamal Al-Khatib has been banned from travelling for three months following an order issued by the Israeli Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom, claiming his travel “harms Israeli national security”, Pls48.net reported yesterday.

Al-Khatib’s Lawyer Zahi Njidat commented on the ban saying: “This is one of the measures taken by the Israeli institution to put pressure on the Islamic Movement.”

The lawyer added: “This is an arbitrary political hunt aiming to cut the Islamic Movement’s ties with its Arabic, Islamic supporters.”

Meanwhile, the Islamic Movement condemned this Israeli measure in a statement, considering it an “arbitrary measure which is completely rejected.”

The group considered this a “political measure”, saying that it is a continuation of a political hunt which started a while ago against its leaders, preventing them from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque.

“We tell the Israeli institution that our contact with our Arabic and Islamic supporters is a right and duty and we will not be unable to pass the needed messages not only to the Arabs and Muslims, but also to the people of the entire world,” the statement said.