Israeli court rejects request for Raed Salah’s release

JERUSALEM (AA) – An Israeli court on Tuesday rejected a request to release Palestinian resistance icon Raed Salah from prison, according to his lawyer.

"The Magistrates Court rejected the request to free Salah and turn him to house arrest until the end of legal proceedings,” Khaled Zbarqa told Anadolu Agency.

He said the court has asked for an alternative to the proposed release of Salah.

“This includes a possible stay outside the city of Umm al-Fahm" in northern Israel, the lawyer said. “The court also asked for more restrictions, including preventing Salah from communicating with the public and media.”

The lawyer said the court request will be studied and “will respond to it soon”.

Last summer, Israeli police arrested Salah from his home in the city of Umm al-Fahm before convicting him on charges of “inciting violence”.

Last month, the Israeli Central Court in the southern city of Beersheba slapped Salah with six more months in solitary confinement.

Israel officially outlawed Salah’s Islamic Movement in 2015 for allegedly engaging in “anti-Israel activities”.