Israel arrests over 200 civilian political activists

[idontwantaname]

These men are leaders of the moderate camp espousing Hamas’ involvement in the political process, and their arrest is expected to increase Hamas’ popularity, a move that weakens the Palestinian Authority still further.

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Israel also engaged in a massive arrest campaign this weekend in which 207 Palestinians were arrested. This was the largest arrest campaign since the massive invasions and attacks of 2002. According to Haaretz newspaper of Israel, most of those arrested were not on any list of wanted men and were not militants, but were rather civilian political activists.

more at...

http://www.palestinemonitor.org/nueva_web/updates_news/updates/4_assassinated_israel.htm

[bemildred]

1. Brilliant move. nt

[barb162]

2. "Israel arrests 207 suspected West Bank militants"

But Reuters uses the term "militants"
Anyway, here's the story
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Israel arrests 207 suspected West Bank militants
05:00:03 GMT

Source: Reuters

(Recasts with new offical figure on arrests)

JERUSALEM, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Israeli troops arrested 207 suspected Islamic militants in the West Bank on Sunday, the army said, in the toughest crackdown in months after the Jewish state vowed to stop Palestinian rocket attacks from the Gaza Strip.

Among those detained were Hassan Youssef and Mohammed Ghazal, top Hamas officials in the occupied West Bank, relatives and sources in the militant group said.

"Our forces have taken 207 fugitives into custody, most of them from Hamas or Islamic Jihad," an army spokeswoman said. Earlier, the army said some 150 were arrested.

The arrest sweep was the biggest by Israel since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed a ceasefire in February that paved the way for Israel's withdrawal from Gaza this month.

snip
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L25103250.htm

[Violet_Crumble]

3. It was the Israeli military who used the term 'militants'

Actually, it was SUSPECTED militants. Given the habit of the Israeli military to label just about any Palestinian a militant, it's really no surprise...

Violet...

[barb162]

4. REUTERS did use the word "militants" in the title of its article n/t

[Name removed]

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