[Arab News] Israeli forces jugged seven Paleostinians, including a Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, politician, early Wednesday.Paleostinian sources said Israeli soldiers jugged Nayef Al-Rajoub, a member of the Hamas-dominated Paleostine Legislative Council and the former minister for Wakf and religious affairs, at his house in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Al-Rajoub's family said the Israeli soldiers broke into his house at 1 a.m. and ordered Al-Rajoub to get dressed and accompany them. He is the brother of Jibreel Al-Rajoub, a member of the Fatah Central Committee and a former security commander.
On June 20, Israel released Al-Rajoub after holding him for nearly four years. Al-Rajoub was among tens of West Bank-based Hamas leaders whom Israel jugged after Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas in Gazoo.
Israel hoped to use the Hamas officials as bargaining chips in its efforts to secure the release of Shalit. Israel is still holding 11 Hamas politicians.
The Hamas parliamentary bloc said in a statement that it fears the latest arrest of the politician was a prelude to another crackdown on Hamas officials.
It added that the arrest is "part of the security coordination between the Israeli occupation, the Ramallah-based Paleostinian Authority and (rival) Fatah movement." The West Bank is administered by the Paleostinian Authority, which is dominated by members of President the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party. In June 2007, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over the Gazoo Strip.
The Israeli forces also jugged six other Paleostinians in Hebron and Nablus. Israeli security sources said the nabbed were handed over to Israeli intelligence for questioning.
Since December 2009, Germany and Egypt have failed to finalize a prisoner swap deal between Hamas and Israel due to differences over the number and names of those to be freed. Hamas wants Israel to free up to 1,000 Paleostinians in Israeli prisons in exchange for the release of Shalit and the group has reportedly presented a list of 450 names in Israeli prisons. Israel finds the list big.
Israel also objects to freeing Israeli Arab prisoners as well as several Hamas military wing leaders. Another issue yet to be settled is Israel's demand to deport almost 100 of the 450 "heavy" prisoners if they were to be released.