Israeli police on Tuesday briefly detained the chief Muslim cleric in Jerusalem, Ikrema Sabri, and said they were questioning him about a newspaper interview in which he was quoted as condoning suicide bombings, officials said.
Sabri, 63, the mufti of Jerusalem, has frequently made comments that have outraged Israelis and has praised Palestinians fighting Israel, AP reported.
Relatives said Sabri was detained at his home at about 9 a.m. Sabri's son Obeidah said police came to the family home in east Jerusalem on Tuesday morning and took his father to a police compound in central Jerusalem.
Reporters saw the mufti freed about three hours later.
Sabri was being questioned over a June 1 interview in the Palestinian daily Al Ayyam, in which he reportedly said that "Palestinians have the legitimate right to fight Zionist occupation," said police spokesman Shmuel Ben-Ruby.
"In addition, the mufti claimed that there is no religious law against suicide actions, rather they are legitimate acts of self defense," Ben-Ruby added.
Bus "attack"
Four bus passengers were injured in Northern Israel at around 11:30 P.M. (0930 GMT) Tuesday near the northern city of Beit She'an in the Jordan Valley. The circumstances surrounding the incident were unclear, but the injuries were likely not caused by a shooting attack.
Rescue services spokesman Yeroham Mandola said four people suffered light injuries. Three other people were reportedly treated at the scene for shock.
Israel Radio said it was unclear whether there had been gunfire or whether stones were thrown at the bus. Army Radio reported later that police were investigating whether a hunter accidentally fired at the bus. (Albawaba.com)
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