Friday, March 12, 2010

Israeli occupation authorities conducted a campaign of arrests in occupied Jerusalem, early yesterday morning.

In Sur Baher, Israeli police arrested Tareq Bkeirat, 23, who works as a guard inside al-Aqsa mosque from his home. The police confiscated his computer and some documents. Bkeirat was released before one-and-a-half month after serving eight months in prison. He got married before two months.

The arrest campaign included Fadi al-Ju'beh, Ahmad al-Jalad, Wisam Sider, Muhammad Muhalwes, Iyad Qiresh, Amar al-Hawash, Omar Muhaisen, Yihya Dweik, Ala' Fakhouri and Rami Fakhouri. All were prohibited from entering al-Haram al-Sharif for two weeks.

In Silwan, members of the Musta'rebin Unit (disguised as Arabs) arrested eight Palestinians from al-Bustan area in Silwan which is targeted with escalated Israeli settlement activities. The arrested was conducted after raiding the protesting tent against Israeli house demolition policy.

Fakhri Abu Diab, head of the committee to Defend Silwan Land and Properties, told the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights, JCSER, "dozen members of the Musta'rebin Unit in plain cloth, wearing masks and traveling in Ford Transit cars, raided the area and began to beat the youth. However, when other people started to pour in the area, members of Israeli Border Guards began to fire tear gas canisters in order to disperse them. Consequently, clashes erupted between them and the Palestinian youth."

In Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood which is also targeted with Israeli settlement activities, Israeli police raided home of Saleh Thiyab to arrest him, however, he was not present at home. His parents are still unaware of the reasons behind the attempt to arrest him.