By Abdel-Raouf Arnaout
JERUSALEM
The Islamic Movement in Israel has slammed a bill proposed by Knesset member Alex Miller that would ban the group and its activities in Israel.
"Our group derives its principles from Islam and its popularity from our people in the land of Palestine," the movement said in a statement.
The statement came following reports that Miller, who represents the Yisrael Beiteinu party, was due to submit a bill that would outlaw the organization and ban its activities in Israel.
Miller was quoted by Israeli news portal Israel National News as saying that the group's activities were "aimed at undermining Israel," accusing it of being behind recent "riots" in Jerusalem.
"By removing them [the Islamic Movement in Israel], we can help prevent their continued close ties with Hamas," Miller added.
Group leader Sheikh Raed Salah is a vocal critic of Israeli violations against Palestinian holy sites, particularly Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He was slapped with a suspended six-month jail term by an Israeli court in May, along with a $2,600 fine for "obstructing the work" of Israeli police in 2011.
www.aa.com.tr/en
