Islamic Radicalism and Political Violence: The Templars of Islam and Sheikh Ra'id Salah

The Islamic Movement in Israel, headed by Sheikh Ra'id Salah, has turned into a templar-like organization which cultivates the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem (the Temple) as its symbol and rallying point. Ra'id combines spiritual authority with political appeal, religious concerns with organizational wheeling and dealing, and local popularity with international salience. In 2004, he was arrested in Israel and accused of channelling funds to Hamas, and the author was an ‘expert witness’ for the prosecution at the trial. After first considering the nexus between religion and politics, the Islamic Movement in Israel and Sheikh Ra'id, the second half of the book examines the trial and its consequences.