Abu Ghosh Council Member Arrested for Employing Illegal Palestinian Workers

Amjad Otman, a member of the Abu Ghosh local council, was arrested by Jerusalem police on suspicion of transporting and employing four illegal Palestinian workers. Otman was detained along with a relative while returning from Ofakim to Abu Ghosh, with the four Palestinians found in their vehicle. During the investigation, two of the Palestinians testified that they had entered Israel to work in construction jobs in Ofakim and Netivot for Otman, who owns a building materials business. The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court extended the detention of Otman and his relative by seven days.

Otman's lawyer, Azat Otman, stated that his client was merely sitting next to the driver, who was a family member, and denied the allegations of employment, saying the matter will be clarified in due course. The Israeli police said the suspects have been systematically involved for about a month in transporting and employing illegal workers, with one suspect also accused of harboring them. The arrests were part of an operational activity by Harel police station officers.