U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman took to Twitter on Wednesday to call for the immediate release of a Palestinian American who was imprisoned by the Palestinian Authority for engaging in a real estate transaction in eastern Jerusalem with Jews.
The abduction of 55-year-old Issam Akel took place approximately two months ago, and his family urgently contacted the United States for help in securing his safe release.
Akel, a resident of Bethlehem with American citizenship, had worked for the P.A. Ministry for Local Government, but is accused by the P.A. of helping sell an Arab-owned house in the Old City of Jerusalem to a Jewish organization.
Selling land to Jews is illegal in the Palestinian Authority, and is punishable by the death penalty.
Last week, Palestinian Islamic representatives in eastern Jerusalem reaffirmed a fatwa (religious decree) prohibiting Palestinians from selling houses or land to Israeli Jews.