25 Jan. 08: B'Tselem researcher in Hebron released from custody and restrictions on him are cancelled

The restrictions placed on Issa Amro, B'Tselem’s fieldworker in Hebron, were cancelled yesterday [23 January]. On Saturday, soldiers assaulted and arrested Amro while he was filming settlers’ disturbances in the Wadi Hasin neighborhood, in the eastern part of Hebron.

A film showing that Amro, who did not act violently, was attacked by the soldiers.

At first, the police requested that Amro is held in custory until Wednesday [23 January] Following the intervention of B'Tselem's attorney, Adv. Smadar Ben-Natan, the police withdrew this demand, and Amro was released on Monday, [21 January]. The police tried to stipulate Amro's early release on the condition of  the issueing of an order prohibiting him from entering the area of Israeli settlements in the city for fifteen days, but on Wednesday [23 January], this order was cancelled as well.

Amro’s arrest was documented on B'Tselem’s video cameras. It is clear from the footage that Amro did not assault anyone. Rather, he was assaulted by a famale settler and a number of soldiers.
B'Tselem will continue its efforts to ensure that the soldiers who assaulted Amro are brought to justice for assaulting him and giving false testimony against him.