RAMALLAH: Israeli security forces on Monday arrested around 120 Palestinians in the West Bank and a refugee camp in East Jerusalem, said Palestinian sources.
Jihad Abu Znaid, Jerusalem’s representative in the Palestinian Legislative Council, said Israeli soldiers — who were reinforced by military helicopters and bulldozers — stormed the Shu’fat refugee camp in the north of East Jerusalem. The soldiers raided homes and arrested around 60 young men and 50 Palestinian laborers from the West Bank who were staying illegally in Jerusalem.
“Several Palestinians, including three journalists, were wounded during the severe clashes that erupted between the Palestinians and Israeli forces,” said Abu Znaid. The journalists were identified as Samir Abu Gharbiyeh of Al-Jazeera English, Ameer Abed Rabbo of Panet agency and Diala Jwaihan of Qods.net.
She added that the large Israeli military operation in the refugee camp was still ongoing on Monday evening. The lawmaker added that the Israeli authorities “create pretexts to isolate the Shu’fat refugee camp from East Jerusalem.”
Israel deems Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, while the Palestinians want the east section of the holy city as capital of their future state.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces arrested 11 Palestinians, including the wife of a Hamas official. Palestinian security sources said the 11 Palestinians were arrested in the cities of Hebron, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Qalqilyah.
The sources said Israeli soldiers arrested Jamal Al-Tawil, the Hamas mayor of Al-Biereh municipality. The sources added that 45-year-old Montaha al-Tawil, was arrested at her home, which soldiers searched.
In a separate development, the Israeli High Court of Justice ordered the release of two foreign peace activists, Ariadna Jove Marti and Bridgette Chappell, in exchange for 3,000 Israeli shekels each (about $800). The activists were also banned from the West Bank.
The two were also asked to submit administrative petitions on their stay in Israel within five days. In addition, judges ruled that the government must issue affidavits regarding the jurisdiction of the Oz immigration police unit in the Palestinian territories.
The Israeli Prosecutor’s Office admitted that the arrest of the two near Ramallah on Sunday by members of the Oz unit was conducted improperly.
The women, Marti who is Spanish and Chappell who is Australian, petitioned the High Court of Justice, claiming that their arrest was illegal as it was conducted in Area A, which is under full Palestinian control and not under the jurisdiction of the Israeli police. The two activists are members of the leftist International Solidarity Movement.
“We’re asking ourselves why the army is motivated to arrest these two peace activists of all people. The army’s motivation is to persecute people based on their political opinions. I ask the court not to lend a hand to this illegality,” said the women’s lawyer, Israeli Attorney Omer Shatz.
According to the lawyer, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos has become involved in the matter, asking the Israeli ambassador in Spain not to deport Marti.
This is the sixth time the Israeli army has acted against leftists near Ramallah in cooperation with Oz officers. Activists say these operations are part of a campaign to stop anti-separation wall rallies in the West Bank towns of Ni’lin and Bil’in.
