Israel sentences Palestinian cleric to jail time

An Israeli court on Tuesday upheld the conviction bestowed upon Islamic cleric Raed Salah, and jailed him for 11 months for inciting violence over Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque in 2007.

Salah is leader of the northern wing of the Islamic Movement in Israel, which authorities have accused of "inciting unrest".

He was initially convicted on the incitement charge in March 2014 and sentenced to eight months in prison, but both he and the prosecution appealed.

Salah's attorney, Omar Khamayseh, told AFP he intended to appeal to the Supreme Court, but a prosecutor said he would have to request the right to do so, since he already has appealed once.

In response to the ruling, Salah said: "Jerusalem is under occupation and we won't give up on the value of Al-Aqsa Mosque."

Salah's conviction comes as Palestinians have been embroiled in clashes with Israeli security forces, which many have dubbed the "third intifada".

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has pledged legal measures to outlaw the Islamic Movement, which he accuses of leading anti-Israeli "incitement" that encourages violence.

Salah's 2007 offence took place during a demonstration against Israeli construction work near the al-Aqsa compound, in Jerusalem's Old City.

During his speech Salah declared that "the finest moments are when we meet God as martyrs for Al-Aqsa", and that "we will... remove the soul of Israeli occupation soldiers who are occupying the Al-Aqsa Mosque".