Israel detains female Palestinian lawmaker

Israel detains female Palestinian lawmaker

July 03, 2017
In this June 3, 2016 file photo, Palestinian lawmaker Khalida Jarrar is greeted by supporters after her release from an Israeli prison at the Jabara checkpoint near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. — AP
In this June 3, 2016 file photo, Palestinian lawmaker Khalida Jarrar is greeted by supporters after her release from an Israeli prison at the Jabara checkpoint near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. — AP

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli security forces detained a female Palestinian lawmaker on Sunday for alleged security offenses.

The Shin Bet internal security service said Khalida Jarrar was arrested along with a Palestinian activist near the West Bank city of Ramallah for “promoting terror activities,” without elaborating.

Jarrar, 55, is a popular figure among Palestinians and is known for fiery speeches against Israel. In 2015, Israel sentenced her to 15 months for incitement to violence.

Her husband, Ghassan said forces seized computers in Sunday’s raid.

Jarrar is a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a left-leaning faction opposed to peace with Israel.

Arab Israeli ex-lawmaker heads to prison with ‘pride’

An Arab Israeli former lawmaker says he is going to prison with “pride” as he begins a two-year sentence for smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners.

Basel Ghattas entered the prison Sunday, saying he went with his “head held high” and with “support from my people.”

Earlier this year an Israeli court accepted a plea bargain in which Ghattas resigned from parliament and admitted to smuggling phones and SIM cards to Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Israel’s Arab minority holds citizenship but faces discrimination in some areas like housing and jobs. They are sometimes viewed with suspicion as many identify politically and culturally with Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. — Agencies


July 03, 2017
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