Israeli police and Shin Bet service raided offices linked to the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in east Jerusalem Sunday afternoon, the Jerusalem Post reported.

An organization called Wifadah was discovered to be channeling funds to Hamas, to be used for the group's election campaign in east Jerusalem, the report said.

The cabinet voted Sunday morning to approve east Jerusalem voting in the Jan. 25 Palestinian parliamentary elections, but stipulated that Hamas would not be a ballot choice for east Jerusalem voters.

Meanwhile, Israeli police arrested three Hamas candidates running for the elections.

The arrested were No. 2 on the Hamas party list for the elections, Sheikh Mohammed Abu Tir, and two candidates for the Hamas list in Jerusalem, Mahmoud Tutah and Ahmed Atun.

Two other people were also arrested. The five are suspected of illegal campaigning in East Jerusalem.

The candidates were planning to hold a press conference at the entrance to the Temple Mount, but police arrested them immediately upon their exit from the Temple Mount ground.

On Thursday, Hamas announced that it would proceed with its election campaign in Jerusalem despite Israel's decision to ban the movement from campaigning in the city.

Posters featuring Hamas candidates have appeared in Arab neighborhoods in the city over the past 48 hours alongside pictures of Fatah representatives. Jerusalem municipality workers and police removed many of the posters.

"We have many ways of conducting our election campaign in Jerusalem," said Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri. "We will use private radio and television stations and newspapers to spread our message. We also have many supporters who are working in the field. "

Masri dubbed the Israeli decision "extortion," saying his movement would not succumb to any threat.

He welcomed a US decision not to interfere in the elections, saying Hamas is subordinate to Palestinian law, not U.S. dictates.

Source: Xinhua