Israel frees cleric it suspected of militant links
Source: Reuters
(Adds comment from Damra's lawyer, military source) NABLUS, West Bank, Jan 25 (Reuters) - A Palestinian cleric, who had been arrested on suspicion of working for a Palestinian militant group abroad, was released on Thursday after Israeli authorities decided not to put him on trial. Fawaz Damra, 46, had been in detention since his arrest this month at the Israeli-controlled Allenby crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, an Israeli security source said. "He was arrested on (suspicion) he worked in the service of Islamic Jihad abroad," the source said, referring to the Palestinian militant group, which is sworn to Israel's destruction. "He was released today and the recommendation was not to bring him to trial," the source added. Damra was not immediately available for comment. An Israeli military source said the military court that ordered Damra's release on bail had rejected a request by police to extend his detention. Damra's bail was set at 10,000 shekels ($2,400), his lawyer Smadar Ben-Natan said, adding her client was not under any specific travel restrictions. "He was released as there was no evidence against him," Ben-Natan said. If Damra was not summoned for any further questioning in the coming months the bail posted would be returned, she said. According to Damra's website, he had lived in the United States for over 20 years where he worked as a Muslim cleric. He was deported from the United States, partly over alleged links to Islamic Jihad. On his website, Damra denied the charges.
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