Court sentences Sheikh Kamal Khatib to community service and fine for political speech, rejecting state’s request for over four years’ imprisonment
On 20 July 2026, the Nazareth Magistrates’ Court sentenced Palestinian religious and community leader Sheikh Kamal Khatib following his conviction on charges of incitement to violence and “indirect incitement” to terrorism. The court acquitted Khatib of charges of “identification with a terror organization.”
The court rejected the State Prosecution’s demand for a lengthy prison sentence of 30 to 50 months. Instead, it sentenced Sheikh Khatib to nine months of community service, a 15,000 NIS fine (around US$ 4,940), and a 10-month suspended sentence.
Adalah and the Meezaan Organization for Human Rights (Nazareth), who jointly represented Sheikh Khatib, stated:
“The court’s rejection of the state’s demand for over four years’ imprisonment demonstrates that the prosecution’s request was extreme, disproportionate, and groundless. However, Sheikh Khatib should never have been indicted or convicted in the first place. The charges were based entirely on expressions that fall squarely within the bounds of protected political speech and freedom of expression.”
Background
Sheikh Kamal Khatib was arrested on 14 May 2021, after heavily armed special police forces stormed his home in the Arab town of Kafr Kanna inside Israel during a violent police operation that sparked violent confrontations between residents and Israeli forces.
The state’s indictment was based exclusively on political expression: two social media posts and a speech that he made on the subject of Israeli police violence against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinians demonstrating in solidarity with residents of Sheikh Jarrah. Over more than five years, the legal proceedings in the case were marred by serious legal and procedural flaws. In June 2025, the court convicted Sheikh Khatib on two counts of incitement to violence and “indirect incitement” to terrorism, while acquitting him of the charge alleging “identification with a terror organization”.
For detailed background on the case, see Adalah's briefing: Free Speech on Trial: The Case of Sheikh Kamal Khatib.
To read more about the conviction, see: Nazareth Magistrates' Court Convicts Sheikh Kamal Khatib for his Political Expressions during May 2021 events
The defense team was led by Attorneys Dr. Hassan Jabareen and Hadeel Abu Salih (Adalah), and Ramzi Ktilat and Omar Khamaisi (Meezan Center, Nazareth).
