Israel arrests Hamas-linked lawmaker in West Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - The Israeli army has arrested a Palestinian lawmaker at his West Bank home, his daughter told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

Rahma Dahbour, daughter of Palestinian Legislative Council member Ibrahim Dahbour, Israeli soldiers arrested her father Wednesday evening near the city of Jenin in the northern West Bank.

"They also confiscated his vehicle," she said.

Dahbour won his seat in the 2006 Palestinian legislative polls on a Hamas-backed electoral list.

His arrest brings the total number of Palestinian lawmakers now in Israeli jails to 12, most of who are linked to Hamas.

The Gaza-based resistance group roundly defeated rival movement Fatah in the 2006 polls, clinching a majority of council seats.

Since then, fresh elections have been prevented by Israel’s frequent harassment of elected Palestinian officials -- including draconian restrictions on their movement -- and ongoing rifts between Hamas and Fatah.

Israel frequently arrests Palestinians on the pretext that they are “wanted” by its security services.