By KHALED ABU TOAMEH

Last week, the Palestinian Islamic religious authorities in east Jerusalem reaffirmed a fatwa (religious decree) prohibiting Palestinians from selling their houses and lands to Israelis. Some Palestinians have even called for imposing the death penalty on those who violate the ban.

Already Palestinian Authority security forces have arrested a Palestinian-American citizen on suspicion of involvement in a real estate transaction with Jews in east Jerusalem, The Jerusalem Posthas learned.

The man’s family has notified the US State Department of his arrest.