Old Palestinian Farmer Arrested Near Nablus

Four International Activists and Old Palestinian Farmer Arrested Near Nablus

Family Beaten by Israeli Soldiers: "You will never see your father alive again"

At approximately 11:00AM a group of four international peace activists were arrested by the Israeli occupying forces. One activist was able to return to the village of Salim.

The group of five activists were with a Palestinian family between the village of Salim and the illegal Israeli settlement of Elon More. The family was harvesting olives and was told by the Israeli army that they could not remain on their land to pick olives. The Israeli army told them to leave and they refused. The international activists decided to stay with the family and help them harvest their olives.

At this point the Israeli soldiers became angry and told the internationals "you can not be in this country, you will be kidnapped and killed." The Israeli soldiers told the internationals to leave and gave them ten minutes to comply.

After ten minutes, one from the group managed to walk away as four activists were arrested.

The four internationals were taken away in army jeeps. One had his hands tied. Once the internationals were arrested by Israeli border police, the Israeli soldiers began beating the Palestinian family. They beat and arrested an old man who was on his land picking olives in an area that does not require a permit from the DCO. His name is Abdel Razak Arrif Rashid and he is in poor health. The soldiers then threatened the daughters, "You will never see your father alive again."

Three international activists who were nearby, came to the area after they heard the screams of the women. They tried to stop the Israeli army from taking the old man away in the jeep and they were kicked, pushed and threatened by the soldiers. The internationals tried to explain to the soldiers that the old man had not been picking olives in an area that required a permit from the DCO-but they refused to listen. The family of the old man suspects their father has been taken to the police station in the Elon More settlement.

The four internationals arrested are: George, from USA; Rihab, from Australia; Nick, from Australia; and Frank, from Germany

They have been taken to Ariel Police Station.

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