The Israel Police arrested Palestinian Authority Jerusalem Affairs Minister Fadi al-Hadami for the fourth time on Friday for allegedly breaking Israel’s ban on Palestinian political activity in eastern Jerusalem.
Police arrested al-Hadami at his home near the Mount of Olives and confiscated NIS 10,000 ($2,750), according to the AP.
In response to the arrest, P.A. Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh tweeted: “Israel targets [those] who work for Jerusalem, even at such critical moments as we work to save our people’s lives from COVID-19. We demand his immediate release.” Shtayyeh claimed last week that the Israel Defense Forces is intentionally infecting Palestinians with coronavirus.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said al-Hadami had been arrested “on suspicions of Palestinian activities in Jerusalem,” and that the arrest had nothing to do with efforts against the coronavirus.
In November, the Israel Police closed multiple Palestinian institutions in Jerusalem on orders issued by Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.
