Erekat on arrest of Jerusalem Governor: Israel violates its own commitments

Secretary General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Saeb Erekat, said on Sunday that by arresting the Governor of Jerusalem, Adnan Gheith, Israel was further violating its own commitments and obligations regarding Palestinian institutions in the city, WAFA reported.

“This is a new step taken by the Israeli Occupation against the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem,” Erekat said in a press release, adding: “Israel is further violating its own commitments and obligations regarding Palestinian institutions in the city.”

He continued, “The threats and detentions against Palestinian political and community leaders, including the abduction of Governor Gheith, should only be taken as part of Israel’s plan to eliminate any foundations for a political solution based on two states on the 1967 border.”

Erekat said Israeli Government has only escalated its aggression against the Palestinian people in Jerusalem after the Trump Administration’s illegal recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. T

“This includes forcible transfer of civilian population, home demolitions, colonial-settlement expansion and persecution of Palestinian civil society and political leaders,” he remarked.

The PLO Secretary General called for the immediate release of the Governor of Jerusalem, as well as upon the international community to take a firm stand on the case of Governor Gheith.

“We consider the abduction of Governor Gheith not only to be a further Israeli violation and aggression against the Palestinian people but a reminder to the international community of the need to take concrete measures to save East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine.”