Israel renews Jerusalem ban for Islamic movement leaders

The Israeli authorities have renewed the ban on two Islamic movement leaders from entering Jerusalem for the third six-month period in a row.

The movement’s Deputy Head, Kamal Khatib, told Anadolu news agency that he was given the news in a letter from the Israeli security services. He is banned from entering the city of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque for another six months. “The decision aims to stop us from doing our duty to defend Al-Aqsa Mosque, but we will continue our mission,” he said defiantly.

Suleiman Ighbaria, another senior member of the Islamic Movement, revealed that he has received a similar banning order. Describing the ban as “arbitrary”, he insisted that it “will not deter us from supporting the people of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque.”

Israel prevented Khatib and Ighbaria from traveling outside the country several weeks ago following a direct order from Interior Minister Silvan Shalom. The Israeli government banned the whole northern branch of the Islamic Movement on 16 November.