RAMALLAH, February 23, 2012 (WAFA) - The Israeli authorities prevented on Wednesday Palestinian Legislative Council member Qais Abdul Karim (better known as Abu Laila) from travelling abroad and turned him back at the Allenby Bridge crossing with Jordon, a press release said Thursday.

Abdul Karim, a senior member of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), said in the statement issued by his office that the Israeli authorities recently notified him that he can leave the country after lifting a travel-ban imposed on him last year.

However, when he arrived at the bridge on his way to Jordan Israeli security officers told him he could not travel.

Abdul Karim was on his way to Cairo to participate in a meeting on reconciliation for the Palestinian factions scheduled to start Thursday.

He was banned in November from travelling to Latin America to participate and deliver a speech at an international parliamentary conference.

He slammed the travel-ban against him, describing it as part of the Israeli “harassment policy targeting Palestinian leaders” and “Israel’s attempt to hinder Palestinian reconciliation.”

R.Q./M.S.