The Israeli prosecution Tuesday morning presented indictments at the Haifa District Court against five leading figures in the Islamic Movement, including its leader, Sheikh Ra'ed Salah.
Four of the defendants were charged with membership in a "terrorist" organization. They were also charged with raising funds abroad for the Hamas charity association which operates in the Palestinian territories.
A separate charge was filed against Salah for providing information to "the enemy" and contact with a foreign agent. The Israeli security service (Shin Bet) claimed that Salah and his aide had contact with an Iranian intelligence agent responsible for recruiting and operating Arab Israelis for the purpose of obtaining intelligence and operational intelligence in the Palestinian territories and Israel. Attorneys for the two denied the charges, Haaretz reported.
The alleged agent, Nabil Machzuma (Abu Ahmad), 53, is an Arab from Nazareth, who was given a life sentence in Israel for "terror" activities, and was expelled to Lebanon in 1985.
Hundreds of supporters demonstrated in front of the court to protest the continued detention of the Islamic leaders, whose only charge, according to the demonstrators, was organizing relief campaigns to families of to orphans in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
