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Scene: Palestinian flag at a protest in Bilin. 12th of June 2015 (MaanImages/Anna Kokko, File) Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- Israeli forces detained an internationally recognized non-violence Palestinian activist early Monday morning, along with two of his family members, from the central occupied West Bank, according to official Palestinian Authority (PA)-owned Wafa news agency.

Wafa reported that Abdullah Abu Rahma, the coordinator for the popular resistance committee in the Ramallah-area village of Bilin, was detained from his home by Israeli forces, along with two of his family members, identified by Wafa as Muhammad Adib Abu Rahma and Ahmad Muhammad Abu Rahma.

According to Wafa, Abdullah Abu Rahma has been detained several times by Israeli forces in the past for his non-violence activities in the village.

Bilin is one of the most active Palestinian villages in peaceful organized opposition against Israeli policies, as residents have protested every Friday for 11 consecutive years, and have often been met with tear gas, rubber-coated steel bullets, and stun grenades from Israeli forces.

According to prisoners’ rights group Addameer, 6,198 Palestinians were detained by Israel as of October. The group has estimated that some 40 percent of Palestinian men will be detained by Israel at some point in their lives.

Rights groups have long criticized Israel for arbitrary detentions of Palestinian activists in an attempt to stifle Palestinian political life.

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