(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Two hours after his arrest, the coordinator of the popular committee against the wall in the central West Bank village of An-Nabi Saleh was released from Israeli custody.
Basem At-Tamimi, 43, had been taken to the Halmish military camp where he said he was beaten and interrogated on Wednesday.
The official said he was threatened by the military, who allegedly told the activist that he would be detained for any further anti-wall action.
At-Tamimi was detained earlier in the day at a military checkpoint installed at the entrance of the village, witnesses reported at the time, saying he was harshly treated at the scene.
The official was detained along with two village teenagers, identified as Ibrahim At-Tamimi and Belal Jamal At-Tamimi, both are 15.
Each Friday, residents of An-Nabi Saleh gather to protest land confiscations from the nearby settlement of Hallamish, demanding a return of the land to villagers.
Last Friday, Israeli forces arrived at the scene and prevented the protest from taking place. Officials from the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee said pepper spray was used against an 11-year-old demonstrator.
At the time, the Israeli military said a group of approximately 30 gathered at the scene. An army spokesman described the event as a "violent, illegal riot," noting that "riot dispersal means" were used against the group.
End item/ 159
