Crackdown on activists continues

PSCC
Press release
11 January 2010

Israel stages night-time Ramallah raid to arrest an international solidarity activist

The raid was conducted to apprehend Eva Nováková, a Czech citizen, who has been the International Solidarity Movement's media coordinator for the past few weeks. The raid was held despite a recent statement by president Mahmoud Abbas, who said the PA is considering scaling back security ties with Israel over area A operations.

Israeli soldiers raided the Ramallah home of Eva Nováková tonight at 3 am near the Manara square. The operation to apprehend Nováková, the ISM's media coordinator in past few weeks, was carried out by a force of both soldiers and members of the “Oz” immigration police unit. During the raid, the army occupied a number of rooftops at a location adjacent to the Palestinian Police Ramallah headquarters. She is currently being held in Givon detention center awaiting deportation to the Czech Republic.

For more details:


Eva Nováková (in jail): +972526878716
Adv. Yiftach Cohen: +972523563782
Jonathan Pollak +972546327736

This recent military raid into Palestinian-controlled Area A comes amidst Palestinian discontent over continued incursions and arrests. President Mahmoud Abbas has recently said that “If the [security] coordination does not lead to a halt in the incursions and the provocations, we will think anew”.

Nováková’s Attoreny Omer Shatz stated: “The Israeli immigration police work under the authority of the Israeli ministry of the interior, and as such have no jurisdiction in the Occupied Palestinian territories. This arrest is part of the continued and illegal use of the immigration police against activists, for political purposes”

This raid follows an extensive arrest wave targeting grassroots activists and oragnizers throughout the West Bank. Such raids have been conducted in the villages of Bil'in - where 32 residents have been arrested in the past six month, Ni'ilin – where 94 residents have been arrested in the past 18 months, the cities of Nablus and Ramallah and East Jerusalem.

Among those arrested in this recent campaign are five members of the Bil'in Popular Committee have been arrested in suspicion of incitement, including Adeeb Abu Rahmah, who has already been held in detention for almost six months and Bil'in's Popular Committee coordinator, Abdallah Abu Rahmah.

Prominent Nablus grassroots activists, Wael al-Faqeeh (Nablus) as well as Jamal Juma (East Jerusalem) and Mohammed Othman (Jayyous) of the Stop the Wall NGO, involved in anti-Wall and boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigning have also been arrested recently. All three are currently being held on secret evidence and with no charges brought against them.