Thursday, April 06, 2006

Israelis 'detain' Hamas minister

Hamas officials say Israeli police have detained a cabinet minister from the new Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Khaled Abu Arafa, minister of Jerusalem affairs, was arrested on the outskirts of East Jerusalem, the officials said.

Hamas said Mr Abu Arafa, a resident of the city, had been detained several times by Israel in the past.

Surely nothing undermines the Israeli governments claims at "benign occupation" more than this.

It reminds me of the recent Israeli assault on a Jericho jail, another example of the myth of the Palestinian Authority. What "authority" does any government have when it cannot stop a foreign power invading, at will, and seizing it's citizens?

And while we all, rightly, condemn the horrendous violence on both sides during this dispute; we must never forget that the occupation is, in itself, an act of violence.

Click on title for BBC story.

Related Articles:

Jailed MPs a symbol for Palestinians

Kadima's big plans for Israel

No comments: