Israeli forces detain pro-Palestinian activists

By DIAA HADID, Associated Press Sun Feb 7, 2010

RAMALLAH, West Bank – Israeli troops broke down the door of an apartment
in the Palestinian-ruled West Bank town of Ramallah on Sunday and arrested
two pro-Palestinian activists from Spain and Australia, their roommate
said.

The Israeli military said the two women overstayed their visas, but also
alleged they were involved in violent protests in the West Bank. Their
lawyer, Omer Shatz, said he believes the pair were targeted for what he
described as peaceful protests against Israeli policies in the West Bank.

The two women are members of the International Solidarity Movement, which
has been active in the Palestinian territories for several years.

Shatz said the women were in detention but that a judge issued an order
preventing their deportation. He identified them as Ariadna Jove Marti,
25, of Spain, and Bridgette Chappell, 21, of Australia.

The women's roommate, Ryan Olander, said about a dozen Israeli soldiers
broke into the apartment before dawn Sunday and demanded to see everyone's
passports. Soldiers searched the apartment, confiscated a laptop and two
video cameras and told the women to pack up their things, said Olander, of
St. Paul, Minnesota.

International Solidarity Movement activists show up at points of friction
between Israeli troops and Palestinian demonstrators, often trying to
block the soldiers. They take part in weekly protests against Israel's
West Bank separation barrier.

At the protests, Palestinian teens routinely throw stones at soldiers, who
respond with tear gas, stun grenades and sometimes live ammunition. Israel
says the barrier is meant to keep Palestinian attackers out, while
Palestinians say it's a land grab.

In recent months, Israel has intensified its crackdown on those involved
in the barrier protests, arresting dozens of Palestinians.

Sunday's raid marked only the second time troops have seized foreigners
from a Palestinian-ruled area of the West Bank. In January, a Czech
activist with the International Solidarity Movement was detained in
Ramallah and deported.

An Israeli military spokesman said the two women arrested Sunday were
involved in "riots and other acts of violence." The official spoke on
condition of anonymity, in line with military regulations.