Some 1,500 Israeli police officers, including special forces and Border Guards, raided hundreds of targets in the Arabic city of Umm Al-Fahm early this morning, in an unprecedented operation which they say is aimed at “restoring sovereignty” in Arab towns, Arab48 reported.
Eyewitnesses said that the house of the leader of the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah, was raided and he was arrested. He was later released after being interrogated.
Local sources reported that the police arrested the Secretary of the Qatari Committee for Spreading Peace, Tawfiq Muhammad Jabarin, the activist Maan Ighbariya from Umm Al-Fahm, and committee leader, Sheikh Khairi Iskandar, from his home in Baqa Al-Ghariya.
The organisation’s office was searched, its operation was banned and its property seized on the grounds that it is linked to the banned Islamic Movement.
Umm Al-Fahm Mayor Dr. Samir Mahameed, said: “Sheikh Raed Salah is not a criminal, and the police forces must leave the city of Umm Al-Fahm.”
Condemning Israel’s actions, the Higher Follow-Up Committee said: “This brazen attack is not just a provocation, but rather reflects the police and its government’s concern about the efforts of good in our Arab society, and the activity of the Peace Disclosure Committee, which seeks to play a role in confronting the scourge of violence and crime supported by the ruling establishment.”
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