Shin Bet shuts down Hamas offices in east Jerusalem

Shin Bet says both offices are part of the Islamic Movement and managed from Nazareth and Umm El-Fahem.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
Hamas policemen 370 (photo credit: reuters)
Hamas policemen 370
(photo credit: reuters)
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police shut down two Hamas offices in east Jerusalem on Thursday.
Al-Quds Development ran one and Amara al-Aksa the other. Both organizations are part of the Islamic Movement in Israel, and managed from Nazareth and Umm el- Fahm, the Shin Bet said.
In 2010, Israel shut down an Al-Quds Development center after information surfaced that it was being used to organize Hamas activities in Jerusalem. It reopened in 2012 after the time-limited ban on its activities expired.
After the learning that Amara al-Aska assists Hamas operations as well, the Shin Bet moved to close it, and this “led to violence against forces and visitors to the Temple Mount,” the agency said.
One of the goals of the center was to prevent Jews from visiting the Temple Mount, the Shin Bet added.
On Thursday, security officials searched the Amara al- Aksa office in the capital, as well as its branch in Nazareth.