17 Palestinians taken prisoner in the West Bank, including a law maker

Wednesday February 28, 2007 11:57

by Polly Bangoriad & Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The Israeli army had invaded several parts of the West Bank on Wednesday morning and abducted at least 17 residents, among them a Palestinian legislator.

In the southern West Bank, Israeli troops attacked Palestinian civilian houses in the city of Hebron and the neighboring villages of Halhol and Surif. Eight people were abducted during these attacks on residents' houses; among them is a Palestinian legislative council member.

Hatem Qafisha, a Palestinian parliament member was abducted from his home in Hebron city when troops attacked and ransacked it. Qafisha was released from Israeli detention center two months ago after spending two years in administrative detention.

Local sources in Hebron city reported that among those abducted were Khaldon Sha'ban 38, Mohamed Ghnam, 32, Hamada Al Atrash, 22, and his brother Akram 19. All were taken to unknown detention camps.

Also in the southern West Bank, seven Palestinian civilians were abducted by Israeli forces that invaded and attacked residents' homes in the village of Beit Fajar, south of Bethlehem city. Sources in the village stated that among those abducted were Yihia Takatka, Yousif Takatka, and Nabil Takatka.

Tulkarem city in the northern part of the West Bank was also attacked by Israeli troops on Wednesday morning. At around 2 A.M on Wednesday, 19 Israeli army vehicles attacked a neighborhood in the city, searched and ransacked residents' houses and abducted Saleh Mohamed, aged 19.

Sa'id Abu Khalil, aged 16, was also abducted when Israeli troops attacked and searched his father's house in the near by village of Ateel.