Israeli police cancel Palestinian International Womens' Day event

Police officers forced the St George's Hotel to cancel the event, citing an unsigned order from the Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.

"We received an order from the ministry of public security saying this event should not be here," said Tony, a manager at St George's hotel, Jerusalem who did not want to use his full name.

"So the police told the people to go outside and the event was cancelled."

The event had been organised by the Palestinian group, Women for Life, a Jerusalem-based NGO to celebrate International Women's Day.

"Preventing Women's effectiveness has become a threat to the security of the occupation," Women for Life director, Zuhour Abu Mayyaleh, told The New Arab.

The New Arab has seen a copy of the unsigned cancellation order presented by the police, citing the Minister of Public Security Gilad Erdan.

The order bans any "organisation of the event in this place, or elsewhere in Jerusalem".

The minister did not respond to an opportunity to comment and it is unknown if he is aware of the order made in his name.

Ironically, Erdan's most recent Tweet was also related to International Women's Day, after he shared a video of Israeli women officers.

Erdan previously aroused controversy when he spoke out in favour of Israeli police's "shoot-to-kill" policy during a radio interview in October 2015.

The minister said he was strongly in support of shoot-to-kill "if a terrorist has a knife or screwdriver in his hand".

"The question of course depends on the circumstances," he said.

"There are clear instructions to the Israeli police. As soon as a police officer feels danger to himself or any other citizen, he needs to shoot according to the regulations. It's clear.

Translation: A mandatory duty to watch. [Women] serving in the Israeli police on the frontline against terrorism are doing an amazing job in fighting crime. A salute to the women now and throughout the year.