Israel arrests Jerusalem governor to stop trip to Al Aqsa Mosque with Saudi football team

Adnan Gaith was arrested and questioned for hours about alleged Palestinian Authority activity in the occupied city

Women football fans wave Palestinian flags as they attend the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

The Palestinian national football team stand for their national anthem during a World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the Israeli occupied West Bank town of al-Ram. Portraits of Saudi King Salman, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman, late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and current Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

West Bank Palestine's Mohammed Yamin in action with Saudi Arabia's Abdulfattah Asiri - FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier - Palestine v Saudi Arabia - Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram. REUTERS

Palestine's Musab Battat in action with Saudi Arabia's Abdulfattah Asiri - FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier - Palestine v Saudi Arabia - Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, West Bank. REUTERS

Saudi player Abdullah Abdulrahman Alhamddan views for the ball with Palestinian player Mohammed Rashid during a World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Fans watch the match- FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier - Palestine v Saudi Arabia - Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, West Bank. REUTERS

Palestine's midfielder Nazmi Albadawi (C) vies for the ball with Saudi's Mohammed Al-Breik during the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Football fans cheer below a banner bearing the portraits of Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (L), late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (2nd-L), Saudi Arabia's King Salman (2ns-R) and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) ahead of the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Palestine's supperters wave their national flags ahead of the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Saudi's forward Abdullah al-Hamdan (L) vies for the ball with Palestine's defender Abdallah Jaber (C) during the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Palestine's Saleh Chihadeh, right shoots the ball in front of Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Madu, center and Ziad Alsahafi during their FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying Group Four soccer match, at Faisal Husseini Stadium, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The match ended in a 0-0 draw. AP Photo

Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Otayf, right challenges Palestine's Nathmi Albadawi during their FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifying Group Four soccer match, at Faisal Husseini Stadium, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. The match ended with a 0-0 draw. AP Photo

Saudi Arabia's French coach Herve Renard (L) looks on as his French assistant Patrice Beaumelle (C) directs his players during the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Palestine's Mohammed Yamen (top) vies for the ball with Saudi Arabias' Hatan Sultan during the Asian qualifiers soccer match for the FIFA 2022 World Cup between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at the Faisal Husseini Stadium, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. EPA

Palestine's Salih Chihadeh (R) vies for the ball with Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Alburayk (L) during the Asian qualifiers soccer match for the FIFA 2022 World Cup between Palestine and Saudi Arabia at the Faisal Husseini Stadium, in the West Bank city of Ramallah. EPA

Palestine's midfielder Nazmi Albadawi (3rd-R) intercepts the ball during the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Saudi's goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais (C) saves the ball during the World Cup 2022 Asian qualifying match between Palestine and Saudi Arabia in the town of al-Ram in the Israeli occupied West Bank. The game would mark a change in policy for Saudi Arabia, which has previously played matches against Palestine in third countries. Arab clubs and national teams have historically refused to play in the West Bank, where the Palestinian national team plays, as it required them to apply for Israeli entry permits. AFP

Palestine's goalkeeper Rami Hamada saves the ball- FIFA World Cup 2022 and Asian Cup Qualifier - Palestine v Saudi Arabia - Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium, Al-Ram, West Bank. REUTERS

Israeli authorities arrested the governor of Jerusalem to prevent him from attending the Al Aqsa Mosque with the Saudi national football team ahead of its World Cup 2022 qualifying match with Palestine.

Israeli police questioned Gov Adnan Ghaith and the Fatah general-secretary for occupied Jerusalem, Shadi Mutour, for hours after detaining them late on Monday. The pair were then released on Tuesday.

Mr Ghaith's lawyer, Mohammad Mahmoud, said that the arrests were orchestrated to prevent the two officials from going with the Saudi delegation to the revered holy site in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinian Authority activities are banned in the city by Israel.

The Saudi national team went to the site, which hosts the Haram Al Sharif, to pray ahead of the 0-0 draw, which was held in the occupied West Bank town of Al Ram.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

The Palestinians seek that part of the city as the capital of any future sovereign Palestinian state.

The site is the third-holiest in Islam after Mecca and Medina. Jews also revere the site as the location of the Second Temple, but they are prevented from praying at the site. They refer to it as the Temple Mount. Far-right nationalist Jews regularly try to enter the compound to pray there.

Last year, Israeli police held Mr Ghaith as part of an investigation related to a land sale.

Police have been investigating Mr Ghaith over suspicions he was involved in the Palestinian Authority's arrest in October of America-Palestinian Issam Akel, who is accused of involvement in selling an east Jerusalem building to Jewish buyers.

Such sales are considered treasonous among Palestinians concerned with Israeli settlers buying property in annexed east Jerusalem.

Police also suspected Mr Ghaith of recruiting Palestinian residents of Jerusalem to the PA armed forces, which Israel says breaches the 1993 Oslo accords.