Israel Releases PA Minister From Detention

Israeli authorities released the Palestinian Authority minister for Yerushalayim affairs from detention over suspected illegal activities on Sunday, according to AFP.

Although a police spokesman would not say more than that the PA’s Fadi al-Hadami had been taken in for questioning for unspecified “activities in Yerushalayim,” his lawyer said that accompanying the Chilean president Sebastian Piñera to Har Habayis last week had something to do with it.

Israeli policy does not allow PA officials to enter the site, and lodged a protest with the Chilean foreign ministry over the breach of sovereignty. Piñera subsequently apologized.

His lawyer Mohannad Jbara said he was released from custody on Sunday afternoon.