Israel Outlaws Domestic Islamic Group as Police Raid Offices

Another positive move, from Israel this time. Bloomberg:

Israel outlawed a domestic religious-political group it referred to as the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, accusing it of inciting recent Arab violence by conducting a campaign of agitation over a Jerusalem holy site.

The security cabinet’s decision makes it illegal to belong to or aid the movement, and allows for seizure of its property. Following the overnight decision by a group of senior ministers who deal with security issues, police shut down 17 organizations linked to the movement in Arab communities throughout northern Israel. They seized records from offices of several of them, and froze bank accounts.

“For years, the northern branch of the Islamic Movement has led a mendacious campaign of incitement under the heading ‘Al-Aqsa is in danger’ that falsely accuses Israel of intending to harm the Al-Aqsa Mosque and violate the status quo,” the government said in an e-mailed statement, referring to the Jerusalem shrine.

“A significant portion of recent terrorist attacks have been committed against the background of this incitement and propaganda,” it said.