Israeli police check Hamas lawmaker in Jerusalem

Israeli police detained a prominent Hamas lawmaker in Jerusalem on Wednesday, on suspicion of conducting illegal political activity, a police spokesman said. The lawmaker, Mohammed Abu Teir, was arrested with two other activists of the Islamic group and brought in for questioning, police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby said. The three were visiting a hospital in east Jerusalem and conducting political activity there in violation of Israeli law, which prohibits Palestinian political activity in the city, Ben-Ruby said. He did not elaborate.

Photo: Israeli police check Hamas lawmaker in Jerusalem

Abu Teir was elected in January to the Palestinian parliament in elections that swept Hamas to power. Although Israel did not block Abu Teir from running, it prohibited all Hamas campaign activity in traditionally Arab east Jerusalem . Hamas has killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks. Israel captured east Jerusalem in 1967 and later annexed it to its capital. The Palestinians want the eastern sector of the city to serve as the capital of a future state, reports the AP.

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