Public security minister bans PA education minister from East Jerusalem

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan prohibits the Palestinian Authority’s education minister from visiting a private Christian school in Jerusalem’s Old City, saying the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo Accords prohibit any official activity by the PA in Jerusalem.

Sabri Saidam had planned to visit the Terra Sancta School, deliver an address and speak to the media, Erdan’s office says in a statement, crediting Jerusalem police intelligence for the information.

Saidam was set to come with Samir Jibril, responsible under the PA for schools in East Jerusalem, and additional senior PA officials, the statement says.

Erdan’s office says that the planned visit was part of the “continuing attempts by the PA to strengthen its status in Jerusalem and demonstrate its presence on the ground.

“These attempts have been made more often recently, and the Israel Police and Minister Erdan act time after time to prevent them,” it adds.

“The battle for our sovereignty in Jerusalem isn’t over,” the statement quoted Erdan as saying. “The PA, together with additional elements, are trying to undermine it and to harm, and eat away at it every day and I will continue to act with all my strength to prevent this and demonstrate our sovereignty in every part of our capital.”

— Sue Surkes