Israeli forces detained seven Palestinian locals from several neighborhoods in Jerusalem on Tuesday at dawn, after they were accused of affiliation to the Palestinian Authority security forces.
The seven detainees were at an Israeli court in Jerusalem on Tuesday afternoon, and are accused of affiliation to PA security. They were expected to be detained for nine days, but attorney Saleh Ayoub sought a shorter remand.
Ayoub said Israel knew very well that the men were affiliated to PA security, but wanted to put pressure on the PA following the Ramallah-based government's efforts to ban settlement goods in the occupied territories.
In recent days, the attorney added, Israel has threatened to close ports to Palestinian goods and prevent Palestine from joining the World Trade Organization, apparently in retaliation for the settlement boycotts. Ayoub views these arrests as part of that pressure.
Informed sources told Ma'an that the detentions took place in Ras Al-Amoud, Jabal Al-Mukabber, Silwan, At-Tour, and Sour Baher village, where troops raided houses and ransacked their contents.
An Israeli police spokesman said he was not familiar with the detentions.
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