RAMALLAH, April 6: In a sign of Israel’s tough stance towards the new Hamas-led government, Israeli forces detained Palestinian minister Khaled Abu Araf at a roadblock in the occupied West Bank. He was released five hours later.

“He was held because he is not allowed to enter these areas, an army spokesman said. Hamas held its first cabinet meeting on Wednesday following its victory in the Jan 25 Palestinian election.

Israel says it cannot consider dealing with Hamas until the group recognises the Jewish state and accepts prior interim Israeli-Palestinian peace accords.

“The Occupation is continuing the escalation to undermine the work of the new government,” Palestinian cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said in Gaza, using Hamas’s term for Israel. “The arrest of a cabinet minister proves the falseness of Israel’s arguments that it seeks peace,” Mr Hamad said.—Reuters