Bethlehem Prisoners' Association report: 1,250 Bethlehemites in Israeli occupation jails

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The year 2006 has witnessed the largest ever Israeli occupation military campaign of kidnappings (arrests) and detention of Palestinians from the Bethlehem governorate, in the south of the West Bank. The number of apprehended citizens reached 650, ranging from young children to elderly men and women.

The apprehension policy over the last year was marked by the aggressive storming of homes by the Israeli soldiers. They arrested both collectively and randomly.

Most apprehensions took place after an almost daily invasion of the governorate by military vehicles and troops, shooting live ammunition, sonic and tear-gas grenades, in addition to the detention and assaulting of citizens.

Fighter jets and special units, in addition to military bulldozers, were used in many of the arrest raids.

The prisoners' association has announced in their annual report that the number of prisoners from the Bethlehem governorate has now reached 1250 in 10 Israeli jails. The prisoner who has so far already served the longest term from the area is Issa Abed Rabbo, who has now entered his 23rd year of incarceration. The man is serving a life time sentence, issued in 1984.

The association stated that 12 prisoners from Bethlehem have now served more than 15 years: Adnan Al-Afandi, Aamir Abu Sarhan, Muhammad Al-Tous, Khalid Al-Azraq, Khalid Asakra, Mahmoud Mu'ammar, Mahmoud Abu Sroor, Riziq Salah, Muhammad Taqatqa, Walid Al-Zir and Adel Shawawra.

Furthermore, the association stated that 10 women from Bethlehem are serving in Israeli occupation jails:

Irna Sarahna, sentenced to 20 years, Aisha 'Bayyat 6 years, Rasha Al-Azza 3 years, Shirin Masalma 4.5 years, Rawan Thawabta 4 years, Arin Shu'ibat 7 years, Firyal J'arah 40 months, Duaa Masalma awaiting trial, Nivin Abu Dukka, awaiting trial and Shirin Khalil Hasan who is also awaiting trial.

According to the report, there are 80 children from Bethlehem governorate serving in Israeli prisons..

There are currently 120 detainees held under administrative detention, without charge, from the Bethlehem area, including Mahmoud Al-Wardyan, who has served 36 months in administrative detention, and Jamal Farraj and Tayseer Abu Mfarrih, whose administrative detention had been renewed 5 times.

In addition, there are 43 detainees from Bethlehem governorate who are serving life sentences.

Israeli occupation forces kidnapped 24 Palestinians in a campaign featuring several different raids in each of the Palestinian towns and cities of the West Bank on Wednesday morning.

Israeli media sources reported that Israeli occupation troops had arrested eight "wanted" Palestinians from the Fatah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements in the city of Bethlehem. Four others, from the Islamic Jihad and Hamas movements, were reported to having been arrested in Hebron.

The sources stated that the remainder of the Palestinians arrested today by the Israeli occupation were arrested in the city of Nablus.

Israeli media describe killing civilians as terrorism. However, when Israeli occupation soldiers kill Palestinian civilians, they do not describe the Israeli killers of civilians as terrorists. It's time for Israeli terrorist acts to be described as terrorism.

Israeli occupation forces use the term "arrest" for "kidnapping" Palestinians from their homes. Objective media worldwide should not fall to the Israeli trap. This is kidnapping.

The Israeli occupation of Palestine is illegal under international law. The Israeli occupation government and its occupation forces have no jurisdiction over Palestinians. Only legitimate governments can arrest citizens. It follows that the correct term is "kidnapping" Palestinians, not "arresting" them by Israeli occupation forces.