Palestinian businessman, held after Bahrain workshop, freed – family

Palestinian businessman, held after Bahrain workshop, freed - family
Palestinian businessman, held after Bahrain workshop, freed - family

The Palestinian Authority (PA) released a Palestinian businessman on Sunday it had arrested upon his return from a U.S.-led economic conference in Bahrain this week, his family and an official said.

The Palestinian leadershipboycotted the conference in protest at a U.S. economic plan forIsraeli-Palestinian peace, saying it was Trump who had inflicted furtherhardship on the Palestinians with cuts to aid.

They branded as"collaborators" the handful of Palestinian businessmen who attendedthe meeting, although Salah Abu Miala, from the city of Hebron in the occupiedWest Bank, was the only one arrested after returning on Friday.

A brother of Abu Miala, who askednot to be identified by first name, said Abu Miala had been released. "Mybrother is at home. He is ill. We don't want anyone to talk to him," hesaid.

A Palestinian official who spoketo Reuters under condition of anonymity said Abu Miala was released overnightbetween Saturday and Sunday.

Palestinian President MahmoudAbbas's office and the PA's security service did not respond to requests forcomment.

Abbas's PA and the PalestineLiberation Organization (PLO) have refused to deal with the Trumpadministration for 18 months, accusing it of bias towards Israel.

Trump's team, headed by hissenior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and regional envoy Jason Greenblattlaunched its $50 billion economic outline for Israeli-Palestinian peace onTuesday in Bahrain, saying the investment programme for the Palestinians wouldbe followed by a political plan.

But their peace bid has been metwith broad rejection among the Palestinians and the Arab world, mainly becauseTrump has so far not embraced the Palestinian quest for statehood.

"We are pleased the PA hasreleased the Palestinian they arrested after attending the Peace to Prosperityworkshop. We look fwd to continuing our conversation w(ith) all who attendedthe workshop & anyone else who wants a better future for thePalestinians," Greenblatt said.

In Jerusalem, Israeli policebriefly arrested the PA's Jerusalem Affairs Minister Fadi Al-Hidmi on Sunday.The Palestinians said Al-Hidmi was released within hours.

The Palestinians want eastJerusalem – territory that Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle Eastwar and later annexed in a move not recognized internationally – as the capitalof a future state.

Israel says the entire city isits eternal, indivisible capital and at times cracks down on Palestinianattempts to assert sovereignty there. 

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