2 Palestinian, One American Peace Activists Kidnapped by Israeli Occupation Forces in Bil'in

American kidnapped for `interfering` with Israeli military in Bil`in

Published today (updated) 03/02/2010 14:53

Ramallah - Ma'an -

A 27-year-old American woman was kidnapped along with two Palestinians by Israeli occupation forces during a night raid in the village of Bil'in on Wednesday, the Popular Committee in the village reported.

All three were taken to the border police station, an organizer said. An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the detentions.

Israeli occupation forces broke into the home of Abdul-Fattah Burnat, 27, then surrounded the home of Ashraf Abu Rahma. International and Palestinian activists were alerted of the raid and went to the location to film the event.

Witnesses said the home was declared a closed military zone by army officials, who demanded reporters and activists stay 50 meters away from the door. Organizers said the group moved 50 meters back, but soldiers continued to harass photojournalist and B'Tselem volunteer Hamdi Abu Rahma, 22.

The Israeli military said Rahma is a Palestinian citizen of Israel, and said he was detained for failing to move back from the home after soldiers declared it a closed area.

As soldiers detained the young man, an American activist attempted to intervene.

The military said the American woman "interfered" in the work of the Israeli army and attempted to "prevent Israeli soldiers from carrying out their duty." They also said the actions of the woman caused rioting in the area. They confirmed her arrest and transfer to the Israeli police.

International peace activists have been staying overnight in the village of Bil'in since the Israeli army began night raids into the village, initially following each Friday's demonstration against the separation wall being constructed on village lands. Night raids became more regular during the fall of 2009, and now occur almost nightly, villagers say.

Peace activists and photojournalists work to document the night raids and the aggressive treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces.

Ashraf Abu Ramha was later detained near the village mosque. Upon his detention Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him, ushering him into a car with a gun pointed at his head, Popular Committee organizers said.

The army also confirmed the arrest of Ramha.

When approached for confirmation of the incident, an Israeli military spokesman could not immediately comment, but did note that one arrest was made in the village of Ni'lin overnight.

Both Bil'in and Ni'lin hold weekly anti-wall rallies, and have been the target of regular night raids.

In January, a Czech woman working on solidarity projects with Palestinians via the International Solidarity Movement was detained from her home in Ramallah during a night raid and deported the following day.

Night raid in Nablus

In addition to the raids of Bil'in and Ni'lin, sources reported Israeli forces operating in Nablus, where they detained one man, identified as 22-year-old Shurahbil Awwad.

The young man was taken from his home in the Al-Makhfiya area in the west of Nablus before sunrise.