Nazareth Court Sentences Sheikh Kamal Khatib to Nine Months Community Service for Incitement to Terror

The Nazareth Magistrate's Court sentenced Sheikh Kamal Khatib to nine months of community service after convicting him of incitement to terror and violence. In addition, Vice President Judge Ruth Shpilberg Cohen imposed a fine of 15,000 shekels and a suspended prison sentence of 10 months, to be enforced if Khatib reoffends within three years. The indictment against Khatib was filed in 2021, and he was convicted last year. While the court accepted the defense's argument and acquitted him of affiliation with a terrorist organization, it upheld the incitement charges.

Khatib previously served as a senior figure in the outlawed Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement and as deputy to Sheikh Raed Salah. He also held the Palestinian prisoners' portfolio in the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel. In 2021, he was arrested by the Shin Bet and detained for an extended period. His defense lawyers described the indictment as politically motivated and an infringement on freedom of expression, announcing plans to appeal the conviction.

The prosecution had sought a prison sentence of 40 to 50 months, but the court rejected this and opted for community service instead. The Adalah Legal Center, which represented Khatib alongside Al-Mizan Center, stated the court's decision reflected that the prosecution's demands were "extreme, disproportionate, and unfounded," emphasizing that the charges related to three publications that fall under freedom of expression for Israel's Arab public.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the verdict on social media, arguing it weakens deterrence. He accused Khatib of praising terror acts and inciting violence against Jews, referencing unrest during Operation Guardian of the Walls. Ben-Gvir condemned the judiciary for imposing what he called an inadequate sentence given the severity of Khatib's offenses.