Israel releases Palestinian Jerusalem minister after hours of arrest

RAMALLAH - The Palestinian Authority on Sunday confirmed that the Israeli authorities had released Palestinian Minister for Jerusalem Affairs Fadi al-Hadmi hours after he was detained from his home in East Jerusalem.

According to al-Hadmi's lawyer Muhannad Jabara, the arrest was a result of pressures from the Israeli right wing on the government after al-Hadmi accompanied Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and his visiting delegation on a tour in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the city.

Jabara said Israeli intelligence and police questioned al-Hadmi during his detention about his alleged violation of "Israel's sovereignty" over Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque by accompanying the Chilean president in the city.

Al-Hadmi, who was recently appointed as the Jerusalem minister, was arrested in his house in the late hours of Saturday night.

On Thursday, the Palestinians accused the Israeli police of attacking Palestinians who were peacefully protesting against police brutality in East Jerusalem.

Mohammed Obeid, a 20-year-old resident of East Jerusalem, was shot dead by the police during the clashes, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.

But Israeli police said the Palestinian man was shot after throwing fireworks at the police, posing "a life threat."

A cellphone video clip on social networks shows a police officer kicking a Palestinian who was already on the ground while another officer handcuffing him.

The protests are continuing on Friday in East Jerusalem.