Israel again detains Palestinian governor of Jerusalem

An Israeli policeman watches over the Palestinian Authority’s Jerusalem governor, Adnan Ghaith, during a court appearance following his arrest in Jerusalem

Agencies and Times of Israel report, “Israel detained the Palestinian governor of Jerusalem on Sunday over “illegal” activities, at least the seventh time Adnan Ghaith has been arrested in less than 18 months. “Adnan Ghaith was detained this morning for Palestinian activity in Jerusalem, which is illegal,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. Israel seldom arrests high-ranking Palestinian Authority officials. However, Israeli security forces have arrested Ghaith many times in the past several years, including on suspicion of incitement.”

“PA President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Ghaith, a resident of Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood and a longtime Fatah activist, to the role of PA Jerusalem governor in August 2018. In his role, Ghaith is responsible for overseeing PA activity in the neighborhoods within its jurisdiction on the edges and outside of Jerusalem. His attorney Rami Othman said Ghaith, who was taken for questioning, was apprehended primarily due to Palestinian activity related to the coronavirus outbreak.”

“Israeli law prohibits the Palestinian Authority from carrying out political activities in Jerusalem.” (more…)