Israel has restricted all activities of the Palestinian Authority’s governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Ghaith, and warned him against taking any action in the name of the PA in the eastern part of the city.
Israel's Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan took the unprecedented step on Monday. His order states that Ghaith cannot hold meetings, gatherings, or conferences in the city related to the PA for the next six months.
Ghaith was brought to the Jerusalem District Police headquarters on Monday evening where he was presented with the order limiting his activities.
The order is the first of its kind that limits Ghaith’s activities personally, and is unlike a restriction or prohibition on holding events as has been done so far. It is also a precedent aimed at an individual because of his role and actions on behalf of the Palestinian Authority in Israeli-controlled territory.
Ghaith is involved in holding various events and financing various projects,
Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 and annexed it in 1981 in a move that was not recognized by the international community, except the United States. The Palestinians refuse to give up East Jerusalem, and they also refuse US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The Israeli move against Abbas’s representative in the city came at a time when the Authority submitted a formal request to Israel to allow Jerusalemites to participate in the Palestinian elections.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced Monday that the Palestinian Authority will hold elections after an agreement was reached with all factions.
Elections will first be held for the Palestinian Legislative Council though no date has been set.
Abbas noted he will not hold the elections if Israel bars East Jerusalem Palestinians from voting inside the city
