Israeli court conditionally releases Jerusalem governor

An Israeli court on Monday ruled to conditionally release Jerusalem’s Palestinian governor, Adnan Ghaith, who was detained without explanation on Saturday, according to a legal source.

In a statement, Mohamed Mahmoud, a lawyer for the Palestinian Commission for Detainees and Former Detainees, said Jerusalem’s District Court had accepted Ghaith’s appeal against the court’s earlier request to prolong his detention.

The court, however, has yet to issue a final release order so as to give prosecutors a chance to challenge the decision, Mahmoud said.

On Saturday, the Israeli authorities detained Ghaith -- without explanation -- in Jerusalem’s northern Beit Hanina district.

The following day, Jerusalem’s Magistrate's Court requested that Ghaith's detention be extended for another three days.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Ghaith as Jerusalem governor -- a largely symbolic position -- in August.