Israel extends Palestinian governor of Jerusalem's West Bank ban

The Palestinian governor of Jerusalem had a ban preventing him from going to the occupied West Bank extended by Israel on Tuesday.

Adnan Ghaith was held at his residence in occupied East Jerusalem by the Israeli police for several hours, the official Palestinian Wafa news agency said.

The Palestinian Authority politician was then given an order prolonging his prohibition from entering the West Bank for six months and released, according to the media outlet.

Wafa said that the move "intends to prevent Ghaith from being in touch with Palestinian officials".

The news agency said the governor has been forbidden from travelling to the West Bank for three years and has been held by Israeli police on 28 occasions.

Ghaith lives in Silwan, an area of occupied East Jerusalem where Palestinians have had their homes and businesses demolished by Israeli authorities.

East Jerusalem came under Israeli occupation following the Six-Day War in 1967 and the whole of Jerusalem was illegally annexed by Israel in 1980.

In response to a New Arab request for comment, an Israel Police spokesperson said: "The suspect was detained and he was not arrested after he was asked to come to the station and he refused. 

"After completing the operation for which he was brought to the police, he was released."