This article was originally published by the Palestine News Network and is republished with permission.

An Israeli military court extended Khalid Abu Arafa's prison sentence for another eight days yesterday.

This is the seventh time the court extended the Palestinian Minister of Jerusalem Affairs' sentence, while he has still not been charged with any crime.

Sources indicate that the judge continues to grant the delays to give Israeli intelligence more time to come up with a reason to hold the Palestinian official, or something to charge him with.

As has been well-documented by the Palestinian Prisoner Society, if a charge is levied, the Israeli military courts often use a vague charge regarding "security," while defense attorneys and the accused are not allowed to view the evidence, also for "security" reasons.

The continued detention of the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, accordingly, was said to be in the light of fact that "intelligence did not succeed in bringing logical and persuasive material" to continue imprisoning Abu Arafa. However, the judge postponed charging or trying him the last time as they were expected "dramatic developments" with which to condemn Abu Arafa. But the new day came up as empty as the first.

Israeli forces arrested Abu Arafa in June and have put him before a military court judge in a Jerusalem military camp seven times since then.

What the Israeli military prosecution is going for is a charge beyond that the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs is a member of the Hamas party, which the Israelis coin a "terrorist organization."

After the Hamas party was democratically elected during the 25 January elections and then later assumed their Legislative Council seats and ministry positions, Israeli forces began arresting them.

On 29 June, Israeli forces arrested the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and seven other ministers. In all Israeli forces also are imprisoning 31 Palestinian Legislative Council members, including the Speaker, Dr. Azzi Dweik, and the Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Nasser Addin Al Sha'er.

Additionally Israeli forces arrested many members of local governments, including Qalqilia's Mayor and Deputy Mayor, during the past several months.