Israeli occupation soldiers kidnap 4 Palestinian fishermen in Gaza, 2 international peace activists in Ramallah

Published today (updated) 07/02/2010 16:22

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

 Israeli occupation soldiers raided a Ramallah apartment early Sunday morning and kidnapped a Spanish and Australian peace activists over expired visas, the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said in a statement.

The Israeli occupation army forcefully entered an apartment in the Area A city of Ramallah at 3 am and kidnapped two peace activists from the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) on suspicion of overstaying their visas. The two, Ariadna Jove Marti, a Spanish journalist, and Bridgette Chappell, an Australian student at Birzeit University, were then taken to the Ofer military prison located inside the occupied territories, where they were handed over to the Israeli immigration police unit "Oz," The PSCC said

"The raid and detention of the two is in direct violation of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, which clearly forbids any Israeli incursion into Area A for reasons not directly and urgently related to security. Even the conduct of 'hot pursuit' is disallowed in non-security related matters, which overstayed visas are," the statement read.

In January, Czech national Eva Nováková was detained and deported to Prague under similar circumstances.

An Israeli military spokesman told Ma'an that the women were in Israel illegally and the arrests were executed by the army, adding that one woman was in possession of "fake documents" while the other had an expired visa. "Both were involved in illegal riots and in interferring with IDF activity," he said.

According to the spokesman, the two women were transferred to the Ministry of the Interior.

Ryan Olander, an American solidarity activist who was at the scene during the raid, told the PSCC that around ten soldiers forcefully entered the apartment and demanded to see the passports of everyone who was present and informed the two of their detention on the grounds of overstayed visas.

The occupation soldiers confiscated cameras, a computer, pro-Palestinian banners and ISM volunteers' registration forms, Orlander said.

Orlander has been arrested twice by the Oz Immigration Unit but his deportation was stayed after a judge ruled his detention illegal, the PSCC said.

IOF soldiers kidnap four Palestinian fishermen at sea

[ 07/02/2010 - 11:37 AM ]
GAZA, (PIC)--

 Israeli occupation forces (IOF) aboard navy gunboats on Sunday kidnapped four Palestinian fishermen off the northern Gaza Strip coast and towed their boats to Israeli shore.

Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli gunboats encircled the two fishing boats and forced them to head to the Israeli coast.
Israeli navy boats block Palestinian fishing more than three nautical miles off Gaza at the pretext of fighting smuggling via sea route into

Israeli peace activist celebrates birthday in Bethlehem

Published today (updated) 07/02/2010 16:13

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

 Israeli activists travelled to Bethlehem to celebrate the birthday of Israeli peace activist Amit Lechem on Sunday, in spite of the separation wall.

"I came to Bethlehem to tell the residents that this wall will not withstand, neither will it prevent peace activists from defending freedom. This is the least we can do to tell the leaders that walls won't foil our efforts to make peace," Lechem said as she celebrated her birthday in a Palestinian home in the city.

Lechem and fellow Israeli activists were welcomed by local Palestinians, who said that the wall will not defeat peoples' will for freedom.

The visit is significant as Bethlehem is in Area A, which, following the Oslo Accords in 1993, is an area that Israeli citizens are forbidden to access.