A 27-year-old American woman was detained along with two Palestinians by Israeli forces during a night raid in the village of Bil'in on Wednesday, the Popular Committee in the village reported.
All three were taken to the border police station, an organizer said.
Forces broke into the home of Abed Al-Fattah Burnat, 27, then surrounded the home of Ashraf Abu Rahma. International and Palestinian activists were alerted of the raid and went to the location to film the event.
Witnesses said the home was declared a closed military zone by army officials, who demanded reporters and activists stay 50 meters away from the door. Organizers said the group moved 50 meters back, but soldiers continued to harass photojournalist and B'Tselem volunteer Hamdi Abu Rahameh, 22.
As soldiers detained the young man, an American activist known locally as "Stormy" attempted to intervene. Both were detained. International peace activists have been staying overnight in the village of Bil'in since the Israeli army began night raids into the village, initially following each Friday's demonstration against the separation wall being constructed on village lands. Night raids became more regular during the fall of 2009, and now occur almost nightly, villagers say.
Peace activists and photojournalists work to document the night raids and the aggressive treatment of Palestinians at the hands of Israeli forces. Ashraf Abu Ramhe was later detained near the village mosque. Upon his detention Israeli soldiers handcuffed and blindfolded him, ushering him into a car with a gun pointed at his head, Popular Committee organizers said. When approached for confirmation of the incident, an Israeli military spokesman could not immedieately comment, but did note that one arrest was made in the village of Ni'lin overnight. Both Bil'in and Ni'lin hold weekly anti-wall rallies, and have been the target of regular night raids.
In January, a Czech woman working on solidarity projects with Palestinians via the International Solidarity Movement was detained from her home in Ramallah during a night raid and deported the following day.
