The West Bank city of Efrat. Photo: Wikipedia.

JNS.org – Palestinian Authority security forces released four Palestinians arrested Thursday for attending a holiday event at Efrat Mayor Oded Revivi’s sukkah in Gush Etzion. The prisoners were released after Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, coordinator of government activities in the territories, intervened.

Before their release, many in Israel spoke out on the prisoners’ behalf.

A senior official in Palestinian Authority security services told Israel Hayom the arrests were in-line with Palestinian Authority law, which classifies meetings with settlers as fraternizing with the enemy. The law exists to prevent them from being exposed to incitement, he said.

Addressing the issue, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I call on the international community to work to help free these innocent Palestinians whose imprisonment is yet further proof of the Palestinian refusal to make peace.”