Several Palestinians Injured in Clashes with Illegal Israeli Settlers, US Activist Detained During Jerusalem Settler Takeover

US activist jailed during Jerusalem settler takeover

Published today (updated) 07/11/2009 19:38

Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

Ahlam Mohsen, 21, was arrested and was awaiting deportation for allegedly attacking a police officer while a guest in the Al-Kurd home as it was taken over by illegal Israeli settlers on Tuesday.

The International Solidarity Movement reported Friday that Mohsen was visiting the Al-Kurd home when it was attacked by a group of illegal Israeli settlers who succeeded in occupying part of the residence. Israeli police say the young woman attacked them, although ISM say their claims run "contrary to eyewitness accounts."

Some 30 settlers were seen entering the house and throwing the family's furniture into the street. The settlers refused to leave the building and Israeli police blocked members of the Al-Kurd family from entering the area. Witnesses also reported heated arguments between police and Palestinian residents.

According to the ISM, several international activists were also at the scene, but only Mohsen was targeted by Israeli police.

“The Israeli police were violently pushing an elderly Palestinian woman. So I stepped in front of them. They told me to move and when I refused they started forcefully pushing me. Then they grabbed me and carried me into a police van," Mohsen told the group from prison.

"While I was waiting at the Israeli Ministry of Interior, the police officers kept telling each other that I was a ‘dirty Arab’ and introducing me as 'Osama Bin Laden’s sister'. One of them threatened to ‘break my head.’ None of the other non-violent demonstrators were targeted; the way they treated me, it’s obvious that I was arrested because I’m of Arab descent," she said.

A CNN cameraperson caught the takeover on film.

Several injured in clashes with settlers

Published today (updated) 07/11/2009 17:14

Nablus – Ma'an –

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers attacked the villages of Burin and Iraq Burin south of Nablus on Saturday afternoon.

Ma'an's correspondent, reporting live from Iraq Burin village, said settlers threw rocks at Palestinians, leading to clashes.

Israeli occupation forces responded in force, injuring a number of Palestinians, including journalists. They were identified as Abed Ar-Rahim Al-Qosini and Aref Tufaha.

Other settlers also threw rocks at Palestinians in Burin village, the correspondent said.

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