Israel's security cabinet outlaws Islamic Movement's northern branch

The Israeli prime minister's office announced Monday that the country's security cabinet has outlawed the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, which Israel says is a faction of the Muslim Brotherhood and a sister-movement to Hamas.

Now, the government can confiscate land belonging to the organization, and it will be considered a criminal offense for an individual to belong to or assist the group, punishable by imprisonment, Haaretz reports. The prime minister's office said the organization had to be outlawed in order to protect public safety, and the move is "not directed against the Arab and Muslim public in Israel, the great majority of which upholds the laws of the state and disavows incitement and terrorism."

Documents released by the prime minister's office say the leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Raed Salah, is behind an incitement campaign "falsely labeling Al-Aqsa 'in danger,' [and] falsely accusing Israel of intent to harm the mosque and deviate from the status quo." Security cabinet member Zeev Elkin called the decision "historic," saying Israel has decided to "deal face to face with extreme agitation of radical Islam."

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