Palestinian Authority releases businessman who attended Bahrain workshop

Security forces also raided the homes of three other Palestinian businessmen who attended the conference

FILE PHOTO: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner speaks at the "Peace to Prosperity" conference in Manama, Bahrain, June 25, 2019. Peace to Prosperity Workshop/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
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Palestinian security forces have released a businessman they detained after he returned from the Bahrain conference, reportedly following pressure from the United States.

Palestinian leaders boycotted the US-sponsored "economic workshop" in Manama last week, which sought investment in pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace. In their place, a delegation of about 20 Palestinian businessmen attended.

Following their return, Palestinian security forces reportedly detained Hebron businessman Saleh Abu Mayaleh, 49, overnight on Friday at his home and released him late on Saturday. Security forces also raided the homes of three other Palestinian businessmen who attended the conference on the grounds of tax violations, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan. Media reports said that at least one man reportedly fled into a part of Hebron under Israeli security control, where Palestinian forces don’t have jurisdiction.

While one Palestinian, Ashraf Jabari from Hebron, publicly accepted the US invitation to attend the conference, other Palestinians attended but did not want their names publicised for fear of backlash. Nonetheless, lists of names of those who reportedly attended have been circulating on Palestinian social media.

The Palestinian Police Chief declined to comment to The National, describing it as a political issue.

On Sunday morning US Mideast Envoy Jason Greenblatt tweeted “we are pleased the PA has released the Palestinian they arrested after attending the Peace to Prosperity workshop.”

The Palestinian leadership condemned the Bahrain conference as against Palestinian interests, a sentiment widely shared by the Palestinian public. Several in the leadership have called those who attended traitors.

Mr Jabari, who works closely with Jewish settlers in Hebron and has ties to US Ambassador David Friedman, lives in an area of Hebron called H-2, which per a 1988 agreement is under Israeli security control so Palestinian forces can only enter with prior coordination.

Mr Jabari faces ongoing treason charges in a Hebron court. Over the years he has faced dozens of other charges, including fraud over business dealings. Many of these cases remain open, and therefore depending on the situation could be grounds for issuing a warrant for his arrest.