The Jerusalem Magistrate�s Court on Wednesday sentenced Sheikh Raid Salah, the head of the Israel Islamic Association northern branch to nine months in prison for assaulting a policeman three years ago.

The court made a point of highlighting the sentence may appears harsh but this is because of the severity of the offense. The sheikh was also fined NIS 7,500.

Speaking to reporters, Salah stated, �the court does not frighten us and we will remove the occupation from al-Aqsa�, referring to Har HaBayis.

Salah is no stranger to confrontation and courtrooms, for he regularly expresses his disdain for the Israeli government and Jewish state, openly pronouncing his anti-Israel pro-Islamic fundamentalist agenda, one that does not include a future for the Jewish State.

He has been investigated on numerous occasions for activities connecting his organization�s funding of terrorist organizations.

Responding to the announced sentence, Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovitch stated the sentence was most significant, sending a clear message, that assaults against law-enforcement officials will not be tolerated.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)