The Israelis arrest three Beit Rema municipality officials, accus Palestinian attorney of helping Gaza captives in occupation jails

The Israelis arrest three Beit Rema municipality officials

[ 06/01/2011 - 02:05 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Israeli army arrested Thursday morning four Palestinians from the northwest Ramallah town of Beit Rema, three of them members of the town municipality, said Palestinian rights expert Fouad al-Khafsh.

The fourth arrestee is Alaa Remawi, a known Palestinian writer. All of the arrestees had previously served time in Israeli occupation prisons.

Khafsh said he believed the Israelis are targeting local councils because of the multiple services they offer to the Palestinians. Previously released prisoners have also been prime targets in Israeli arrest campaigns. No charges have been placed against the detainees.

The Israelis arrested 13 more West Bank men Thursday morning. The arrestees were "wanted" by the Israeli army and taken in for questioning, Israeli Radio said.

Two nights prior, Israeli undercover police stormed the Wadi al-Halwa Information Center and arrested center director Jawad Siyam.

Police said Siyam was suspected of assault. The victim and time and place of incident were left unnamed, the center's attorney reported.

Meanwhile, Adnan Ghaith, a member of the Bustan defense committee in Jerusalem, said he received three phone calls from Maskobia police summoning him for questioning.

The Israeli West Bank military chief earlier issued orders to have Ghaith exiled from Jerusalem for four months for allegedly inciting "violent acts" during the latest protests in Jerusalem's majorly Arab Silwan district.

Palestinian attorney accused of helping Gaza captives in occupation jails

[ 06/01/2011 - 04:45 PM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli central court of Jerusalem held an initial hearing Wednesday to listen to the testimonies offered by the military prosecutor in the case of Palestinian attorney Shirin Tariq al-Issawi and her brothers Madhat and Raafat.

The defendants were indicted earlier with transferring canteen monies to Gaza Strip detainees in Israeli occupation jails.

Conflicting testimonies against the defendants seemed to have supported their case.

Issawi's plea for release was denied despite insubstantial evidence, according to the defense.

The court called for a second hearing to be held on January 13 when the prosecutor will offer more testimonies.

Issawi said she was convinced after hearing the testimonies against her that her case was "political and not legal".

The attorney, hailing from Jerusalem's Issawiya district, was arrested in April. Her brothers were later taken into custody.

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