Washington Post reporter briefly detained in Jerusalem

Washington Post Jerusalem bureau chief William Booth is briefly detained by police in Jerusalem on accusations of “incitement.” The incident takes place at Damascus Gate, outside of the Old City. Booth’s colleague Ruth Marks Eglash says he is “harassed” by cops.

@washingtonpost #Jerusalem bureau chief @BoothWilliam is harassed, accused of incitement by #Israeli border police pic.twitter.com/iCcqVEzDRh

— Ruth Marks Eglash (@reglash) February 16, 2016

Booth and his cameraman were interviewing locals near the Damascus Gate next to the Old City of Jerusalem. An Arab woman told him that she could get some of the bystanders to demonstrate against the police if he paid them, police spokesperson Asi Aharoni tells The Times of Israel.

Someone who saw the scene unfolding contacted nearby Border Police officers. The officers approached Booth and his photographer and asked that they come with them, Aharoni says.

They were taken to a nearby police station to be briefly questioned and have already been released, the spokesperson says.

— Judah Ari Gross contributed