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Israel detains Palestinian minister of Jerusalem affairs
Israeli police detained the Palestinian Authority's minister of Jerusalem affairs, Fadi al-Hadami on Wednesday, an Al Arabiya correspondent reported.
Al-Hadami is charged with allegedly breaking a law prohibiting political activity in Jerusalem by the Palestinian Authority, which is based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfled said al-Hadami was detained early Wednesday. The PA-appointed governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Gheit, is also being sought for the same offense.
Palestinian official Adnan Husseini countered that the arrest was meant to stop “social and cultural activities.”
Al-Hadami was last arrested on similar grounds in June.
The PA appoints officials for east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967 and later annexed. But aside from some day-to-day affairs, their role is mostly symbolic, as Israel maintains full control over the city.
In June, Israeli police had detained, then released al-Hadami from custody after questioning him over claims he organized activities in the city in violation of Israeli rules, his lawyer said.
The June arrest was reportedly due to activities that included accompanying Chile’s president during a visit to Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque complex.
This infuriated Israel, which said the tour constituted a violation of regulations and a breach of understandings reached with Santiago for the head of state’s visit.
