The Palestinian militant group Hamas says Israeli police briefly detained a minister in the new Hamas-led Palestinian government Thursday.

Officials say Khaled Abu Arafa and his bodyguard were arrested while traveling to the Jerusalem suburb of Izzariya to take control of a political office that had been operated by the previous Fatah administration.  The two were released several hours later. 

Israel considers Hamas a terrorist organization and describes Jerusalem as its eternal capital.  As such, Israeli officials have refused to let the militant group conduct any political activity in the city.

It was not immediately clear whether Israel will permit the office to operate while Hamas controls the Palestinian government. 
 
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP.