Israeli Islamic leader begins jail sentence for spitting on police

Sheikh Raed Salah is surrounded by supporters as he arrives at prison 

near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Sunday.

 

Jerusalem (CNN) -- The leader of the Islamic movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, begins a five-month jail sentence Sunday after being convicted of assault for spitting on a border police guard during a protest against Israel's construction near the Al-Aqsa mosque in 2007.

Islamic movement spokesman Zahi Injidat told CNN that followers were heading to the mosque Sunday in solidarity.

"We are going to show our support with Sheikh Raed Salah that the fight is for the Aqsa mosque and make the Israelis feel that there will be thousands of Salahs, not only one. The Israeli authorities will not bring us down," he said.

Injidat also described the ruling and charges against Salah as an "an unprecedented ruling."

A court in East Jerusalem reduced Salah's sentence from nine months to five months earlier this month and also acquitted him of incitement charges.

Salah was one of the passengers on the Gaza-bound Mavi Marmara flotilla boat trying to break Israel's blockade on May 31. Israeli troops raided the ship, killing 8 Turkish citizens and one Turkish-American dual citizen and injuring others. Nine Israeli navy officers were also injured during the operation.