Israeli occupation forces kidnap Palestinians in Bethlehem, East Jerusalem, Break Into Homes, Shops

Two Palestinians & One American kidnapped Following Pre-Dawn Incursion in Bil'in

Wednesday February 03, 2010 14:34 by Circare Parrhesia - IMEMC News & Agencies

26 Israeli occupation soldiers entered the West Bank village of Bil’in, near Ramallah, on Wednesday at 3 am. They kidnapped 2 Palestinians, one a journalist, and an international journalist.

Local sources report that the soldiers entered Bil’in, initially with the intention of arresting local man, Ibrahim Abdul Fatah Bornat, only.

As the soldiers passed through the village, they encountered another local man, Ashraf Abu Rahmah, who was handcuffed and removed from the vicinity of Bornat’s although not arrested.

The Israeli occupation soldiers then proceeded to enter the home of Bornat, who was subsequently arrested and taken away.

At approximately 3:30 am, a military convoy of 7 jeeps entered Bil’in and Bornat’s home was thoroughly searched. Items belonging to the family were removed, including Bornat’s computer and documents belonging to his brother, Mohammed.

During the search, the Israeli occupation soldiers closed the area of the home, and established a perimeter of 50 meters. The soldiers declared the area a closed military zone, and when requested to show the court order allowing this action, produced a document that was written in Hebrew only.

Local journalist, Hamda Abu Rahmah, also a volunteer with Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, approached the house, in an attempt to take photographs and was subsequently kidnapped. During this incident, an international journalist of U.S. citizenship, known to locals as ‘Stormy’, was also detained.

These arrests follow the detention of Mohammed al-Khatib, leading member of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlement Construction in Bil’in, last week, in a similar pre-dawn raid, and recent incidents involving internationals.

On Monday, 11th January, International Solidarity Movement media coordinator, Eva Novakova, was arrested and deported, following a night time raid by the Israeli military into the West Bank city of Ramallah, and on the Wednesday, 20th January, chief English editor of Ma’an News Agency was deported following 8 days in detention. His girlfriend, Faith Rowald, a volunteer for the Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, had been deported six days prior.

Ibrahim Abed El Fatah Bornat and Hamda Abu Rahmah are the 36th and 37th residents of Bil’in to have been arrested since June 2009, in the escalating crackdown on organizers of non-violent protest, with similar events occurring regularly in the West Bank, including the villages of Ni’lin and al-Ma’asara.

Israeli police chase down, detain 4 in East Jerusalem

Published today (updated) 02/02/2010 13:44

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Four Palestinians were chased down and detained by Israeli occupation forces in Al-'Aizariyya on Monday night, as witnesses described a high-speed chase through the streets of occupied East Jerusalem.

Witnesses identified two of the detainees as Dawood Abu Al-Reish, and Muhammad Sinnawi.

Four military patrol cars were said to have ambushed a Palestinian Fiat car near the center of Al-'Aizariyya.

Israeli occupation forces detain group east of Bethlehem

Published yesterday (updated) 02/02/2010 14:17

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Israeli occupation forces reportedly detained a group of Palestinians on Monday who were in the Jeb Al-Dheeb village east of Bethlehem to plant almond trees on lands near the illegal Israeli settlements of Tekoa and Noqedim.

Local sources said an Israeli occupation force of about 20 soldiers, along with 25 illegal settlers and police dogs, arrived to the land and made the volunteers sit in small groups away from one another.

Awad Abu Suway', the spokesman for the Popular Committee in Bethlehem, said that the volunteers were still being detained more than two hours after Israeli forces arrived. He added that soldiers allowed journalists to leave, however.

The Israeli military did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Israeli occupation forces Break Into Palestinian Owned Homes & Shops in East Jerusalem

Monday February 01, 2010 14:46 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News & Agenices

Israeli toccupation forces and workers for the Jerusalem municipality raided, on Monday at midday, Palestinian owned homes and shops located at the Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood near Jerusalem’s old city.

Residents told reporters that troops and Israeli municipality workers stormed a number of homes and shops, searched them, and audited them.

The municipality claims that the residents and shop owners have not paid property taxes that Israel enforces on the Palestinian residents.

Amongst the homes that were attacked in this Palestinian neighborhood, was the house of Is'hak al-Qaswasmi, a local journalist. He told The Palestine News and information Agency WAFA that his daughter was alone in the house in troops stormed and searched it.

Qaswasmi added that his daughter was left in shock due to the soldier's violent behavior. Residents of Wadi al-Joaz, say that this is not the first time their homes and shops have been raided in this manner, and that it sometimes occurs at night, and the families forced out in the cold while soldiers search the property.

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