JERUSALEM, Saturday, August 31, 2019 (WAFA) – In its campaign against Palestinian social activities in occupied East Jerusalem, Israeli police raided today Burj al-Laqlaq club and community center in the Old City and detained two of its officials, according to sources.

They told WAFA that police raided the club located just inside Herod‘s Gate, one of the main gates to Jerusalem‘s walled Old City, and detained Nasser Ghaith, head of the center, and Alaa Jamjoum, coordinator of a football tournament for Palestinian families.

The raid and detentions came hours before the tournament for 10 families from Jerusalem was supposed to kick off at Burj al-Laqlaq, which has a grass football field.

Israeli police, under instructions from the right-wing Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan had previously banned the tournament from being held under the pretext the event was financed by the Palestinian Authority, which the management of the club has strongly denied insisting that it was financed by a Palestinian businessman from Jerusalem.

Palestinians say Israel is trying to ban all activities in the occupied city under the pretext of fighting PA influence. They included not only political, but also social, economic and sports activities.

M.K.