The head of the northern branch of Israel's Islamic Movement on Friday called for an intifada (uprising) to save the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Israel Radio reported. In a fiery speech at his protest tent in the East Jerusalem, Sheikh Raed Salah accused Israel of attempting to build the Temple on al Aqsa while drenched in Arab blood, according to the report.
"Israeli history is drenched in blood," Israel Radio quoted Salah as saying. "They want to build their Temple while our blood is on their clothing, on their doorposts, in their food and in their water."
Israel's Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi said Friday that police will investigate Salah's remarks, and should they be found to be "seditious" in nature, steps will be taken against him.
On Thursday, Salah dismissed a court ruling to extend by another month the order to keep him 150 meters away from the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem because he is accused of organizing protests against Israeli works near Al Aqsa. "They have no right to make decisions on anything connected to the Al-Aqsa Mosque," he said, according to Haaretz. "I emphasize that I will enter the mosque at any time I think is right."
