Palestinian Activist Ahed Tamimi Arrested for ‘Inciting Terror’, Says Israeli Army 

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi waits to speak at a rally calling for justice for Palestinians amid a growing threat of further war in the Middle East, in central London on May 11, 2019. (AFP)
Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi waits to speak at a rally calling for justice for Palestinians amid a growing threat of further war in the Middle East, in central London on May 11, 2019. (AFP)
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Palestinian Activist Ahed Tamimi Arrested for ‘Inciting Terror’, Says Israeli Army 

Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi waits to speak at a rally calling for justice for Palestinians amid a growing threat of further war in the Middle East, in central London on May 11, 2019. (AFP)
Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi waits to speak at a rally calling for justice for Palestinians amid a growing threat of further war in the Middle East, in central London on May 11, 2019. (AFP)

The Israeli army said Monday it had arrested the prominent 22-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

"Ahed Tamimi was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence and terrorist activities in the town of Nabi Salih" near the city of Ramallah, an army spokesman told AFP.

"Tamimi was transferred to Israeli security forces for further questioning."

Tamimi became famous at age 14 when she was filmed biting an Israeli soldier to prevent him from arresting her little brother who had his arm in a cast.

She has become an icon of the Palestinian cause and a large portrait of her has been painted on the Israeli separation wall with the West Bank in Bethlehem near Jerusalem.

Since the start of the Gaza war triggered by the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Israeli security forces have carried out large-scale arrests of Palestinians suspected of links to Hamas or of inciting violence.

A spike in tensions and violence has claimed the lives of more than 150 Palestinians in the West Bank since then, most killed by Israeli soldiers or by settlers according to the Palestinian health ministry.



Türkiye Reiterates Conditions for Northern Syria Troop Withdrawal

File photo: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler
File photo: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler
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Türkiye Reiterates Conditions for Northern Syria Troop Withdrawal

File photo: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler
File photo: Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler

Türkiye has once again conditioned the withdrawal of its forces from northern Syria on the implementation of several measures related to the adoption of a comprehensive constitution, the holding of free elections, the full restoration of relations, and the implementation of arrangements to ensure the security of the common borders, through mutual coordination.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Monday that Ankara and Damascus may hold meetings at the ministerial level, as part of efforts aimed at normalizing relations, if the conditions are suitable.

An official in the Turkish Ministry of Defense also said that communications with Damascus are taking place on more than one level.

In response to a question by Reuters on the possibility of a Turkish pullout from Syria, Guler said: “We are ready to provide all the support we can for a comprehensive constitution to be accepted, for free elections to be held, and for a comprehensive normalization and security atmosphere to be created, and only when these are done and the security of our border is fully ensured will we do what is necessary through mutual coordination.”

Diplomatic sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Guler’s statements reflected the Turkish position and confirmed the path to normalize relations with Syria.

The sources added that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is maintaining his contacts, under the directives of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to draw up a roadmap for the upcoming meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

All matters can be discussed at the negotiating table without preconditions, the sources noted.

Last month, Erdogan said that he would extend an invitation to Assad to discuss restoring relations between the two countries to what they were before 2011. The Syrian president replied that such talks can only be held within the framework of Syria’s sovereignty, emphasizing the need to focus on fundamental issues, including the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Syria.