Israelis Arrest Palestinian Minister

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Thursday April 06, 2006 12:55 by pat c

In another attack on Palestinian sovereignty the Israeli Military arrested a Palestinian Cabinet Minister this morning. This is part of the ongoing campaign by the Israelis to humiliate the Palestinian people and their elected representatives.

pat

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.

News agency reports said Mr Arafa was detained at a checkpoint at the entrance to al-Azaria, a suburb of East Jerusalem. His bodyguard told the BBC that their car was stopped by Israeli border police and the minister asked for his papers. He said there was an argument and Mr Arafa was dragged from his car.

The BBC's James Reynolds in Jerusalem says it seems likely that Israel arrested Mr Arafa because he was on his way to inaugurate new political offices.

Full story at link.