Israel detains Palestinian journalist in West Bank

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israeli forces detained a Palestinian journalist in a raid on Wednesday in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to local residents.

Alaa al-Rimawi, the director of a private media network, was arrested by an Israeli force in al-Ersal neighborhood in the city, the residents said.

Clashes erupted between Palestinian residents and Israeli forces, who used rubber-coated bullets and teargas canisters to disperse the angry Palestinians, according to eyewitnesses.

Al-Rimawi's wife, Mai Husam Eddin, confirmed her husband's arrest, saying that he will start a hunger strike in protest of his detention. The Israeli army has yet to comment on the arrest.

Some 4,400 Palestinians are incarcerated in Israeli jails, including 41 women, 155 children and 355 held without charge or trial under Israeli policy of administrative detention.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara