Erdan Issues Order Against PA ‘Governor of Yerushalayim’

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan on Monday night issued an order against activities by Adnan Jit, the Palestinian Authority’s “governor of Yerushalayim.” Jit, an Israeli citizen, was appointed to the post in 2018 by PA Chief Mahmoud Abbas. He was detained Monday night by police, who served him with the order.

This is the first time such an order has been issued against an individual with the title of “governor of Yerushalayim.”

Jit has been involved in numerous incidents that involved security violations, organizing events and activities that have been banned by Israel. He was arrested in 2018 on suspicion of being involved in the kidnapping of Issam Akel, an Israeli-American dual citizen who was arrested by the PA for selling land to Jews. Akel was sentenced to death, but he was later deported to the U.S. instead. Jit was questioned over allegations that he organized the kidnapping.

Commenting on the order, Erdan said that “we will continue to fight anyone who attempts to blur our sovereignty over Yerushalayim. The PA is doing everything it can to establish itself in our capital, and the issuance of this order is an important step preventing this. I plan to advance a law that will provide a punishment of five years in prison for anyone who tries to conduct illegal activities on behalf of the PA inside Israel. We must act to prevent these actions and discourage others from doing so,” he added.