Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Palestinian American Sentenced to Life in Prison for Doing Business With Jews

Photo by Salvator Barki/Getty Images
Photo by Salvator Barki/Getty Images
Share Tweet
By Carly Hoilman
Writer

January 3, 2019

A Palestinian American who did business with Jewish people will now pay the ultimate price: life in prison. On Monday, a Palestinian court in Ramallah (about 6 miles north of Jerusalem) found 53-year-old Issam Akel guilty of selling a house to a Jewish Israeli organization, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Ohio Doctor Threatens to Give Jews ‘Wrong Meds’ in Disturbing Online Posts

Akel, a U.S. citizen and east Jerusalem resident, was first arrested by Palestinian Authority officials in October. Following a one-week trial, the Palestinian Grand Criminal Court found him guilty of “attempting to cut off a part of the Palestinian land and adding them to a foreign country.”

He will now spend the rest of his life doing hard labor behind bars.

Anti-racist Palestinian Authority today sentenced Issam Akel, a 53-year-old American-Palestinian, to life imprisonment for the crime of selling land to a Jew. https://t.co/XKjH9f7XtE pic.twitter.com/itO0OhZDJJ

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) December 31, 2018

The circumstances surrounding Akel’s arrest are murky. Since he resides in east Jerusalem and therefore holds an Israeli ID card, he should have immunity from being tried in a PA court.

There are several conflicting stories regarding Akel’s circumstances. According to The Jerusalem Post, some reports hold that he was arrested while visiting Ramallah. Other reports claim he was kidnapped from east Jerusalem and taken to the Palestinian city against his will.

Why hasn't Issam Akel, a **U.S. citizen** convicted to life in prison by the Arabs of Palestine for the mortal sin of "selling a house to the enemy in Jerusalem," i.e. Jews, gotten the Khashoggi treatment from Western media? https://t.co/e0tbACgJgG

— Benjamin Weingarten (@bhweingarten) January 2, 2019

The alleged offense that landed Akel in prison involved the sale of a home owned by two Muslim families in the Muslim Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem. The middle-aged American acted as the broker, selling the property for $500,000 to Ateret Cohanim, a Jewish organization that purchases Muslim-owned properties in the region in the hopes of maintaining a Jewish majority.

According to the PA’s official news agency, Akel was found guilty of “selling a house to the enemy in Jerusalem.” Palestinian sources claim the PA has frozen the bank accounts of Akel and the two Muslim families who formerly owned the home.

The practice of selling land to Jews is punishable by death according to Palestinian law, and people like Akel are seen as guilty of “high treason.”

Akel’s sentencing comes after international protests from Israel and the United States.

Last month, New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind delivered a letter written by Akel’s wife to President Donald Trump. The president said he would look into the situation.

HIKIND, TRUMP DISCUSS U.S. CITIZEN HELD AND TORTURED BY PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY DELIVERS EMOTIONAL LETTER TO THE…

Posted by Dov Hikind on Sunday, December 9, 2018

Israeli Police have launched an investigation into Akel’s arrest. PA “governor” of Jerusalem, Adnan Gheith, and a senior PA intelligence officer, Jihad Fakih, were arrested in connection with the investigation, but both were later released on bail.

Please pray that those investigating this case will achieve justice for Mr. Akel and his family.

(H/T: The Jerusalem Post)

Latest

  • News

    All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’

  • News

    ‘Dear Jesus, Please Help Them’: Meteorologist Credited With Saving Lives After Viral, On-Air Prayer to God as Deadly Tornado Hit

  • News

    ‘Thank You, God, For Saving Me’: Blac Chyna Removes ‘Demonic’ Image From Her Body After Announcing Baptism

  • Entertainment

    Blac Chyna Quits OnlyFans, Changes Lifestyle After Becoming Christian: ‘Let Me Let God Lead Me’

  • Faith

    UK Preacher Reported as Terrorist After ‘Disturbing’ ‘Misgendering’ Arrest Wins BIG After Legal Nightmare


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’
  • ‘Dear Jesus, Please Help Them’: Meteorologist Credited With Saving Lives After Viral, On-Air Prayer to God as Deadly Tornado Hit
  • ‘Thank You, God, For Saving Me’: Blac Chyna Removes ‘Demonic’ Image From Her Body After Announcing Baptism
  • Blac Chyna Quits OnlyFans, Changes Lifestyle After Becoming Christian: ‘Let Me Let God Lead Me’
  • UK Preacher Reported as Terrorist After ‘Disturbing’ ‘Misgendering’ Arrest Wins BIG After Legal Nightmare

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?