An Israeli peace activist and an American journalist were among 12 people detained by soldiers on Friday during a demonstration in occupied West Bank, an activist group’s spokeswoman said. “The Israeli army arrested five Israeli peace activists including Jonathan Pollack and five foreigners as well as Ben Ehrenreich of the New York Times magazine and a Palestinian farmer working his land,” Abir Kopty said.

Kopty, spokeswoman for a group that coordinates popular resistance in the Palestinian territories, was speaking after the weekly demonstration in the Palestinian village of Nabi Saleh. “The army arrived together with border guards equipped with handcuffs to arrest” demonstrators, she said.  “I was arrested and taken to a nearby military checkpoint without any reason,” added Ehrenreich.

Israeli soldiers try to arrest a worker of Israeli human rights organization B’tselem during a protest against the Israeli occupation in the West Bank village of Nabi Saleh, on July 13, 2012 (Photo: Activestills)

It is worth mentioning that Ehrenreich have been doing a detailed and comprehensive report about the events and demonstration in Nabi Saleh village and exposing the occupation crimes that badly affecting Palestinian daily life. Since 2009, Nabi Saleh has been the site of weekly demonstrations staged by Palestinian villagers and Israeli and international activists who oppose encroachment by a neighbouring Israeli settlement.