JERUSALEM, Monday, February 08, 2021 (WAFA) - Israeli police prevented today Palestinian shop owners in the Old City of Jerusalem from opening their shops despite lifting the general lockdown imposed to confront the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

WAFA correspondent said that the Israeli police patrolled the streets in Jerusalem's old city and forced the majority of Arab shops to close.

Hijazi Rishiq, chairman of the East Jerusalem Merchants' Committee, told WAFA Israeli police forced shop owners to close their shops, threatening a fine of NIS10,000 (approximately $3000) for anyone who opens despite the lifting of the lockdown in Jerusalem yesterday, with the clear intention of targeting and crippling the old town's economy.

He indicated that the Israeli authorities lifted the closure in West Jerusalem on Sunday, which lasted from December 27, 2020, until February 7, 2021, while keeping most of the Arab shops in the Old City of Jerusalem closed, except for grocery shops and vegetable markets, under the pretext that such shops receive large numbers of people.

He slammed such pretexts as flimsy excuses used by the Israeli authorities to strangle the Palestinian economy in Jerusalem.

K.T./T.R.