The Cyber Department of the State Attorney's Office today (Friday) filed an indictment in the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court against the imam of the former Great Mosque in Lod, Sheikh Yosef Elbaz (63).
Defendant expressed support for rioters who have attacked police on the Temple Mount in recent weeks, during the month of Ramadan.
Along with the indictment, filed by attorneys Yoni Haddad and Or Arber, a motion was filed to order the detention of the defendant until the end of the legal proceedings against him, in view of the danger posed by him.
According to the first indictment, last April, there were violent incidents and widespread disturbances in the Temple Mount area, including rioters throwing stones at police officers who were at the scene and firing fireworks at them.
Shortly afterwards, defendant Albaz posted a post on his Facebook account in which he referred to the rioters.
Elbaz wrote that "The list of honor ... the young, the brave, Al-Marbatun and Al-Marbatat (the fortified and fortified), the freedom fighters, Al-Mitkafon and Al-Al-Tafqat (the lone and the reclining). Al-Aqsa is the list of honor that has exposed some of those political leaders in Israel who arouse false thoughts among public opinion of every thought other than the defense of Al-Aqsa. .
This post was accessible to thousands of the defendant's followers on Facebook, and it served as a platform for others to express their support for the content through likes and shares.
Incited against the security forces.
Sheikh Elbaz, Photo: Yossi Zeliger
Another charge relates to a conference held two days later, near the Great Mosque in the city of Lod, attended by dozens or hundreds of people.
The defendant, who was one of the speakers at the conference, addressed the audience and once again expressed words of praise and sympathy for the violent events that took place on the Temple Mount.
Elbaz said: "I want to salute the salute of honor and glory, salute of honor, I want to give it to the youth, who unfortunately some of our traitors called them thugs. And trees in front of an Israeli war machine, protecting the al-Aqsa Mosque.We should kiss their heads and legs, otherwise, Israel would have emptied the al-Aqsa Mosque a long time ago, every time they burst into the mosque what do they do? They bring a small number of policemen with stun grenades "And take us all out of al-Aqsa and let the invaders come in as they please. If it were not for these young heroes who stand in front of the police, fight them and are wounded by them, we must salute them with a salute of honor and glory."
This post also resonated on social media, with about 24,000 people watching it on one of the pages.
In the State Attorney's Office's request for detention until the end of the proceedings against the defendant, the State Attorney's Office insisted that the potential damage from committing such offenses is real and substantial.
These are provocative statements by a figure who has a great influence on a wide circle of people, and against the background of the tense period we are in, which is reflected in terrorist attacks across the country, during which 19 Israelis were killed, and severe riots, including in the Temple Mount.
The danger posed is not limited to a concrete platform, as it is an incitement carried out both in the "classic" city square, near the Great Mosque in the city of Lod, in front of many participants, and in advertising in the "modern" city square, the social network.
The "Up to Here" organization responded: "Public leaders who incite antisemitic harm to Jews should be brought to justice. Sheikh Elbaz chose to use his position to ignite the fire during riots and even now. The law enforcement system must detain him until the end of the proceedings to prevent the His continued incitement to violence, the results of which we have seen in the past year throughout the country and especially in the cities involved.
The If You Will movement responded: "A very important step in the fight against terrorism. The same method must now be used against Akram Sabri, Kamal Khatib and Raed Salah. The streets of our country should be free of incitement that arises in human life. Only in this way can we restore peace and security to all Israeli citizens."
It will be recalled that the sheikh was arrested about two weeks ago and questioned about a speech he gave at a mosque in Lod a few weeks ago, which is suspected of inciting against the security forces and support for riots and violence.
The speech was also posted on social media.
Elbaz's name made headlines during Operation Wall Guard as he was considered one of the biggest instigators at the time.
Last July, two months after the operation, the cyber department of the State Attorney's Office filed an indictment against the Imam in the Ramla Magistrate's Court for inciting violence against police on the Facebook network and for threatening Facebook against Lod Deputy Mayor Yossi Harush.
Last December, the deputy attorney general, Adv. Alon Altman, ordered the police to open an investigation against Sheikh Yosef Elbaz on suspicion of inciting violence.
Another indictment was filed against him in 2018 for threats and assault with a cold weapon, for which he was convicted last December.
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