The Israeli regime is investigating the detained Palestinian governor of the occupied Jerusalem al-Quds over suspected involvement in ‘terrorism,’ in the first such allegation against the frequently-arrested official, his lawyer says. Adnan Ghaith was detained on Sunday morning when Israeli troops raided his home in Silwan neighborhood on the outskirts of the Old City of Jerusalem al-Quds.
During the past two years, he has been arrested by Israeli security forces more than 17 times, according to Palestine’s official Wafa news agency, typically over alleged involvement in “illegal” political activities in the city.
His lawyer, Mohammed Mahmoud, said on Monday that in addition to political offenses, the governor was being probed over “planning an act of terrorism,” and that he was not expected to be released soon.
In the previous arrests he had been released within a day or two.
Israel prohibits the Palestinian Authority from carrying out political activities in Jerusalem al-Quds.
However, it is the first time Ghaith is arrested over the allegation of terrorism, Mahmoud added.
Under the Israeli law, terrorism is an umbrella term which encompasses a broad range of offenses, meaning that the investigation does not necessarily mean Ghaith is suspected of plotting an act of violence.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld also told AFP that Ghaith “is being questioned by security forces.”
The Israeli regime has declared the whole Jerusalem al-Quds as its so-called “capital” in a highly provocative move, infuriating Palestinians, who see the eastern sector as the capital of their future state.
Following the controversial declaration, the Tel Aviv regime banned all Palestinian Authority activities in the city.
The Authority is based in the occupied West Bank and is headed by President Mahmoud Abbas