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HEBRON (Ma'an) -- Israeli forces detained seven Palestinians and four foreign nationals in the southern West Bank on Wednesday after a conference on popular struggle, witnesses said.

They said three people were injured in the incident outside the Ibrahimi Mosque following an altercation between the participants after a nearby conference and Israeli settlers.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said she was looking into the reports.

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Israeli Forces Arrest Five Palestinians in Hebron Area

HEBRON, April 11, 2012 (WAFA) – Israeli forces Wednesday arrested five Palestinians, including a minor, from several areas in the Hebron district, according to security sources and a local activist.

Muhammad Awad, a member of the Beit Ummar Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements, said forces raided their town, located north of Hebron, and arrested a 17-year old teenager and two other Palestinians.

Clashes erupted in the town after the arrest as Israeli soldiers fired tear gas and stun grenades at the villagers, he said.

Soldiers also arrested a 22-year-old Palestinian near the Ibrahim mosque, in Hebron’s old city, which is under Israeli army rule. No reason was given for the arrest.

Another Palestinian was arrested in the town of Dora, southwest of Hebron, after beating him, according to town sources.

M.S.

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Israeli Border Police Violently Attack Palestinians and Internationals in Hebron

Submitted by Ali Abunimah on Wed, 04/11/2012 - 21:33 Electronic Intifada

Twelve were detained and Three were injured after Israeli forces attacked participants of the Bilin Conference on the Popular Struggle who toured Hebron.

Israeli Border Police officers attacked a group of Palestinians and Internationals who participated in the 7th International Bilin Conference on the Palestinian Popular Struggle this afternoon. The incident took place during a tour of the Old City of Hebron.

Eight Palestinians and four internationals were arrested and at least three people were injured by the blows they suffered at the hands of police. One Italian woman suffered an injury to her shoulder that required hospitalization.

About 200 Palestinians and Internationals attended the second day of the Bilin Conference, which today took place at the old city of Hebron. After lunch, which was held at a school off of Shuhada Street, participants began to gather at the entrance of the Old City to begin a tour of the area. Settlers who passed by in their cars noticed the gathering and aggressively honked their horns at the group, but continued without incident.

Two minutes later, Israeli Border Police officers arrived in the area and arbitrarily detained a three of the Palestinians. A second group of settlers then arrived at the scene in large numbers and began inciting the police against the conference participants, calling on the police officers to “eliminate” the them. the Border Police officers, now joined by regular police, then began pushing and beating the conference participants - men and women alike.

During the attack, the officers arrested eight Palestinians and four internationals. While most were released without charge shortly after, two Palestinians and two internationals are still held at the Hebron police station. Among those still held are two Italians and Issa Amro, a well known grassroots activist from Hebron, who was clearly arrested for who he is rather than anything he’s done.

Amro has only recently spent nearly a week in detention after the army evicted Palestinians from a house in the city. The eviction took place despite the fact that the activists had legal claim to the house, which eventually forced the authorities to release Amro unconditionally.