Israeli Prison: A Rite of Passage for Palestinian Boys
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Associated Press
Israeli prisons have become a rite of passage for Palestinian boys in the village of Nabi Saleh, where generations of boys have been arrested and imprisoned. The Israeli military defends the large-scale arrests of Palestinians, including minors, as necessary for security reasons, while Palestinian activists and human rights groups argue that the mass detentions are meant to instill fear and crush resistance. The recent release of Wisam Tamimi, who was held in Israel's Ofer Prison for six months, along with the release of his activist cousin Ahed Tamimi, has brought both joy and pain to the village. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has left scars on Nabi Saleh, which was once an idyllic village but now faces frequent raids and violence from Israeli forces.