Israel jails Hamas speaker Dweik

Aziz Dweik was arrested in 2006 by Israeli forces

An Israeli military court has sentenced the speaker of the Palestinian parliament to three years in prison for belonging to an illegal organisation.

Aziz Dweik, a member of Islamist group Hamas, has already served more than two years and will be freed in August.

He was arrested with other politicians in August 2006 in Israeli operations following the capture by Hamas of an Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

Mr Dweik, 60, was elected speaker after the Hamas poll victory in January 2006.

Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel.