Israeli security forces arrested a 70-year-old Palestinian imam near Me’aras Hamachpeilah in Chevron on Wednesday on suspicion of inciting terrorism and encouraging attacks against Israelis, as more than 14,000 people visited the site under heightened security.

The arrest took place approximately 200 meters from the Me’aras Hamachpeilah complex while large numbers of visitors were gathered at the site and in the Yitzchak Hall.

According to police, the operation was carried out by officers from the Shai District’s “Chetz Yehuda” special patrol unit, acting on intelligence provided by the district’s operations center and in coordination with the IDF Central Command.

The suspect, a Chevron resident who serves as an imam in his local area, was arrested while performing gardening work in the yard of his home.

Police said an initial review of investigative material raised suspicions that the imam had been actively disseminating inflammatory material on social media.

According to authorities, the suspect allegedly published posts encouraging terrorist attacks, violence and public disturbances in Yehuda and Shomron and other areas.

During a search of the suspect’s home, security forces seized his cellphone and a laptop computer. Police said the electronic devices will be examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

The imam was taken into custody and transferred to the Shai District for questioning.

The arrest came amid a major security operation surrounding Wednesday’s tefillos at Me’aras Hamachpeilah. Hundreds of police officers, Border Police personnel, IDF soldiers and volunteers from the Chevron area were deployed to secure the site and the thousands of visitors attending the events.

{Matzav.com}