Minister Braverman: Jewish extremists also at fault for riots

Minorities Minister Avishay Braverman (Labor) said Wednesday that Jewish extremists were also to blame for the recent violence in Jerusalem.

Speaking to Ynet, Braverman warned that outlawing the Islamic Movement would only bolster it and hurt Israel's status.

"Ministers and MKs' calls to have the movement banned only serve the Islamic Movement's political interests. Outlawing the group would only embolden extremist elements and strengthen the movement itself," he told Ynet.

Tuesday night saw the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court release the head of the Islamic Movement's northern branch, Sheikh Raed Salah just hours after his arrest for incitement, but the court issued an injunction prohibiting him from entering Jerusalem for 30 days.

At the start of the hearing, the police representative requested his remand be extended by five days, but said the police would also agree to have him confined to Umm al-Fahm for 30 days.

The police representative referred to Salah's speech from October 2, which the police claim included "serious incitement, that directly caused the recent acts of violence" in Jerusalem and the surrounding villages which included riots, Molotov cocktails and blocking paths to the Temple Mount and the area.

"Whenever Salah was arrested in the past who became a hero in Israel and throughout the Muslim world, and this is true for the current arrest as well," the minister said. "I can't say whether he broke the law or not, I don't know. What I do know is that the arrest bolstered him."

Braverman said that during every holiday period "Jews pray and extremist Muslim elements spread the word that the 'status quo has been violated'. On the other hand, there are extremist Jewish elements that cause provocations, which lead to riots.

"It is important to stress that the Israeli government has not changed its policy of forbidding Jews from praying at the Temple Mount," he said.

According to Braverman, the current dispute may ignite not only the Middle East, but the entire world.

The minister said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government "must realize that if we don’t provide the Arab sector with the resources it is entitled to, we will be pushing them (Israeli Arabs) into the arms of radical Islam."