Under terms of the agreement with prosecutors, Al-Arian had pled guilty to “conspiracy to provide services” to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and would be given a prison term of 46 to 57 months. Al-Arian would then be turned over to immigration authorities for deportation. The government’s more than 10-year case against the former University of South Florida professor collapsed last December when a jury acquitted him of terrorism charges and deadlocked on other counts. He remained imprisoned—where he has remained since his February 2003 arrest—while prosecutors considered whether to retry or attempt to deport him.

Because of the time Al-Arian has already served behind bars, he is likely to spend at least one more year in prison, and then be handed over to the immigration police.

The New York Sun cheered the sentencing and the judge’s rebuke of the “terrorist professor.” Its editors praised Judge Moody—a Clinton appointee—for bringing “inspiring clarity” to the case and presenting “the authentic American voice.”  
 
 
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