The southern branch of the Islamic Movement has expressed outrage over plans to hold a wine festival in Be’er Sheva in a courtyard outside a building formerly used as a mosque. Just the publicity for the festival constitutes an “unforgiveable sin” and “a harsh blow to Muslim sensitivities,” the group said. Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol.

The group accused local Israeli leaders of “an ongoing policy of religious persecution targeting Palestinians in this region.” The Islamic Movement does not accept the existence of Israel, which it terms “inner Palestine.”