Special report: Hamas-led cabinet takes office

    JERUSALEM, April 6 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian cabinet minister from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) was arrested by Israeli police near East Jerusalem on Thursday, local Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

    Khaled Abu A'rafa, Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, was detained along with his bodyguard by Israeli border police while on his way to Azzariyeh near East Jerusalem, where he planned to inaugurate a new office, said the report.

    But the Israeli border police said they had no knowledge of the reported arrest.

    If confirmed, it will be the first time that Israel has arrested a Palestinian minister since the Hamas-led cabinet was sworn last week. Enditem