Islamic Jihad: PA arresting members in West Bank
May 3, 2015 3:44 A.M. (Updated: May 3, 2015 3:44 A.M.)
http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=765198

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) – The Islamic Jihad movement on Saturday accused the
Palestinian Authority of arresting and harassing its members in the occupied
West Bank.

Islamic Jihad said in a statement that PA security forces had arrested
members in Jenin, Tulkarem, Ramallah, and Hebron governorates.

The statement alleged that the PA had summoned students and activists
affiliated to Islamic Jihad and threatened to imprison them if they partake
in political or student activities.

The statement also accused PA security forces of targeting Palestinians
formerly held in Israeli prisons.

"Summoning prisoners after they have been freed from Israeli jails poses a
question mark over how serious the PA is about defending Palestinian
prisoners in Israeli custody," the statement said.

The accusations come after a spate of PA arrests across the occupied West
Bank, which police insist has been aimed at criminal activity and not
political opponents.

Spokesperson for Palestinian security services in the West Bank
Major-General Adnan Dmeiri told Ma'an that Palestinian security services
"never arrest any Palestinian because of affiliation to a political party or
due to their political point of view."

He said that all arrests were due to "criminal activity," and that the
judiciary system had "the final say in any charges, as according to the
Palestinian penal code."

Dmeiri also suggested that there had been fewer arrests than was widely
suggested.

He accused Hamas and other political factions of "circulating black
propaganda to protect their members who are involved in illegal activities."

'The Israeli temper'

Many of the recent arrests have taken place in Area C, where Palestinian
security forces have limited power.

Under the Oslo Accord, Israel has full civil and military authority in Area
C, and Israeli forces rarely arrest Palestinian criminals who they do not
deem a "security threat" to Israel.

International Crisis Group reported in 2010 that while Israel has in the
past allowed Palestinian police forces to carry out limited operations in
Area C, these were mostly for purposes of fighting political opponents,
including members of Hamas, and rarely to combat ordinary crime.

As a result, Area C has for years harbored Palestinian criminals, including
collaborators with Israel, the ICC report said.

The recent spate of arrests suggests that Israel has been allowing increased
Palestinian police activity in Area C, although Islamic Jihad's claims cast
doubt on the nature of the arrests.

While Islamic Jihad alleges that the arrests are politically motivated, the
PA says that they are targeting criminals, and suspected drug dealers are
among those they have brought in.

In March, preceding the current spate of arrests, Israeli forces prevented
Palestinian security forces from detaining suspected drug dealers in eastern
Nablus, despite prior security coordination.

Asked why Israel was allowing greater Palestinian security activity in Area
C, Dmeiri said: "I can't explain the Israeli temper," although he added: "It
is never related to any political compromises between Israel and the PA."

He suggested that the increased flexibility could be due to the fact that
criminal activity that thrives in Area C was beginning to cross into Israel
and was having a negative impact on Israel.