Israelis release Hatem Abdel Qader on bail

The Fatah official responsible for Jerusalem affairs was released on bail on Monday night (25th October). Hatem Abdel Qader had been summoned to Al-Maskoubia Police Station in West Jerusalem to answer charges of breaching a military order prohibiting him from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque. His bail was set at NIS 20,000 (New Israeli Shekels).

According to various sources Mr. Abdel Qader denied categorically all of the charges levied against him. During the five hours that he was held in the police station, he also expressed his alarm at the timing of the investigation, which came just two days before the hearing at an Israeli magistrate’s court on 28th October to consider his first breach of the military order prohibiting him from entering al-Aqsa.

Mr. Abdel Qader said that the latest summons and temporary detention could be a prelude to the verdict against him on Wednesday which may see him sent to prison. He described the Israeli authorities’ claims that he incited events in Silwan as “malicious”.

Source: Quds Press Service