[fse-esf] Jeff Halper arrested

[Yannis Almpanis]

            				http://www.icahd.org/eng/news.asp?menu=5&submenu=1&item=628

Police detain Israeli for entering Gaza in blockade-busting boat 
        	    			By Ofri Ilani, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters 
							Wednesday, August 27, 2008        				
									                        				
    				 								                        								                
Policeon Tuesday detained an Israeli activist who had sailed to theHamas-ruled Gaza Strip to challenge Israel's blockade of the coastalregion. 

They accused Jeff Halper, who also holds United States citizenship, of violating a ban on Israelis entering Gaza. 

Halper was among 44 'Free Gaza' activists from 17 nations whosailed in two boats from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip on Saturday indefiance of the blockade. 
 
He spent three days in the Gaza Strip before entering Israel through the Erez border crossing, where police detained him. 

According to Halper, Israeli forces at the crossing initially toldhim that if he came with the boat, he should return the same way.However, he said, they allowed him to cross into Israel shortlyafterward. 

'He is being questioned at the police station in Sderot forentering the Gaza Strip in defiance of a military decree banningIsraeli citizens from doing so,' Israeli police spokesman MickyRosenfeld said. 

Halper told Haaretz on Tuesday that he expected to be interrogatedupon his return to Israel. He expressed satisfaction with his successin entering and leaving Gaza, and said he did not fear harassment byIsraeli security forces. 

Israel allowed the activists to sail to the Gaza Strip, the firstforeigners to reach the territory by sea since travel restrictions weretightened after Hamas's takeover more than a year ago, saying it wantedto avoid a public confrontation. 

The activists brought with them a symbolic shipment of hearing aids. 

They plan to sail back to Cyprus on Thursday and have vowed to takeseveral Palestinians with them, including students prevented by Israelfrom leaving Gaza to study abroad. 

As part of an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire that took effect in June,Israel has eased its blockade of the territory, allowing in morehumanitarian goods and medical equipment.
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