WATCH: IDF arrests Palestinian brothers, Israeli activists while grazing herds

By Matt Surrusco July 7, 2013 | Edit

IDF arrests two Palestinian shepherds, four Israeli activists in Um al-Kheir, after declaring the site a closed military zone.

In the same West Bank village where the IDF recently demolishe d a n outdoor toilet built for a disabled person, the army arrested four Israeli activists and two Palestinian residents Saturday in the south Hebron hills, for “entering a closed military zone.”

The younger of two brothers from Um al-Kheir was grazing his herd of sheep and goats near the village, east of Yatta, accompanied by Israeli activists from Ta’ayush before the six men were arrested around 12 p.m. on Saturday, according to activist Amitai Ben-Abba, one of the four arrested from Ta’ayush. They were all later released on restrictive conditions and one on bail.

“[The Palestinian herder] went way around this contested extension of the settlement Carmel because there has been lots of harassment recently from Israeli military and settlers,” said Ben-Abba. “When he came back [from grazing the herd] two soldiers came and grabbed him.”

In an emailed statement, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said IDF forces declared an area near Carmel a closed military zone in order to diffuse “an illegal gathering of 35 people.”

Ben-Abba said the location where the activists and herders were arrested was not within the closed military zone.

One Palestinian man, the older of the two brothers, was arrested for allegedly “attacking an IDF soldier and trying to climb an IDF military vehicle,” according to the IDF.

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence. We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies. This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza. We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives. Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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