Israeli Minister of Public Security and Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan on Monday signed an order to shut down an event that was supposed to take place today under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority (AP) at the Makassed Hospital in eastern Jerusalem.
The event was supposed to include symbols of “Palestinian” sovereignty such as the PA anthem, political speeches on behalf of the PA and the participation of senior Palestinian Authority officials, including PA Minister Jawad Awad and Adnan Husseini, the PA’s Minister for Jerusalem Affairs.
Erdan’s order banned the event under an Israeli law which prohibits the PA from opening or operating a representative office or conducting activities within the (’67) borders of the State of Israel and authorizes the minister of public security to act against such activity.
Erdan’s office noted that the ongoing activities of the hospital will not be hindered by the order’s implementation.
In recent years, Erdan has been leading a forceful preventive policy against the PA’s attempts to hold events in the sovereign territory of the State of Israel. Among other things, the minister extended the order to close the Orient House building, which used to serve as the PA’s headquarters in Jerusalem, and recently issued closing orders for a commemorative event in east Jerusalem financed by the PA, for a conference in the Kfar Shiloach (Silwan) neighborhood that promoted the Palestinian Authority takeover of east Jerusalem, and other events under Palestinian Authority auspices which were planned for Jerusalem.
“The Palestinian Authority continues to try to harm Israeli sovereignty in east Jerusalem and to weaken it by replacing it with institutions that will operate under Palestinian sponsorship and funding,” Erdan cautioned while vowing to “act vigorously to prevent any violation of Israeli sovereignty in all parts of our capital Jerusalem.”
