Two hundred Israeli Arab protest in Tel Aviv

[Picture Desk]

Two hundred Israeli Arab protest in Tel Aviv

Fundamentalist Muslims demonstrate on the front of the Tel Aviv court Tuesday, May 13, 2003 as sign of protest after the arrest of Sheik Raed Salah head of the Islamic Movement in Israel. Sheik Raed Salah and other 14 members of Israel's Islamic Movement where arrested and accused of funneling millions of dollars to Hamas, a terrorist group responsible for hundreds of homicides bombings against Israeli civilians.

Among the charges are membership in outlawed organizations, contact with a foreign agent, money laundering, and transferring funds to bodies identified with Hamas, and supporting security prisoners and families of suicide bombers, Israel Radio reports

Internal Security Minister Tzahi Hanegbi said it made little difference whether the money was used for buying explosives or was given to families of suicide bombers. "Terror cannot exist without a financial infrastructure," he said.

The Islamic Movement is the largest Arab organization in Israel. It has split into a more pragmatic branch that participates in Israel's political life, and a more radical branch that has come out in support of Hamas, a Palestinian group operating in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel's Arab citizens make up about a sixth of the country's population of 6.5 million.

Click here to see the pictures => http://www.ciaimages.com/stories.asp?story=147&page=1&speed=low