ISRAELI FORCES DETAIN 4 ACTIVISTS NEAR BEIT UMMAR

Bethlehem, 13 Shaban 1436/30 May 2015 (MINA) – Israeli forces on Saturday arrested a Palestinian and three foreign activists during a protest against Israeli settlement expansion near Beit Ummar in the southern West Bank.

Israeli forces injured other activists when they dispersed a sit-in at Beit al-Baraka on the Jerusalem-Hebron road near Beit Ummar, where local activists report that Israeli settlers are trying to seize 40 dunams of Palestinian land and have started construction, Ma’an News Agency  reports as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The Palestinian detained was identified as Yousef Abu Maria, while the names of the foreign activists were not reported.

A Palestinian activist, Muhammed Brijieh, told Ma’an that Israeli forces had fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at the protest, causing a number of activists to suffer excessive tear gas inhalation.

Popular resistance committees also organized a peaceful march on Saturday to protect Beit al-Baraka, which was reportedly attended by dozens of Palestinian and foreign activists. (T/P010/NMT)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)