Israel arrests radical Islamic cleric for inciting violence

JERUSALEM — Israeli police on Tuesday arrested a radical Islamic cleric on suspicion of inciting violence and involvement in an outlawed organization.

Raed Salah, head of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, was questioned for allegedly supporting and inciting violence and terrorism, police said. Israel outlawed his group in 2015. Later, a court extended Salah’s detention until Thursday.

Salah completed a nine-month prison sentence in January for “incitement to violence” and “incitement to racism.” He has had repeated run-ins with Israeli authorities and was previously imprisoned for funneling money to Hamas, the Islamic militant Palestinian group that rules the Gaza Strip.

Salah told reporters in the courtroom that his arrest was part of a political witch hunt against him.