Israel arrests mother of Palestinian prisoner

By Qais Abu Samra

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Israeli army forces on Tuesday detained the mother of a Palestinian man accused of killing two soldiers in the West Bank last year.

Israeli soldiers raided the town of Kobar in the central West Bank and arrested Suheir Barghouthi and her two brothers, according to local residents.

During the raid, Israeli forces searched the homes of the three and damaged their contents, they said.

The Israeli military has yet to issue an official statement on the arrests.

Israeli authorities accuse Assem Barghouthi of killing two soldiers and injuring eight settlers in two shooting attacks in the West Bank last year.

Assem was arrested by Israeli forces on Jan. 8 after a month-long manhunt.

Assem's brother, Saleh, was shot dead by Israeli forces in December for his alleged involvement in a shooting attack.

On Monday, the Israeli army said it will demolish the houses of Assem and Saleh for their alleged involvement in attacks against Israeli targets.

The Israeli army uses the emergency law of the British Mandate in 1945 to demolish Palestinian homes, whose owners allegedly carried out attacks against Israelis.

Israel’s top court usually rejects Palestinians' appeals against the demolition of their homes.