Al-Sharif, a journalist for the independent Hebron-based Radio Marah, was arrested after Israeli military forces raided his home in the southern West Bank town, according to news reports. He was ordered held in administrative detention. Under administrative detention procedures, authorities may hold detainees for six months without charge or trial and then extend the detention an unlimited number of times.
An Israeli army spokeswoman said al-Sharif was arrested for “suspected involvement in terrorist activity,” according to the independent Bethlehem-based Ma’an News Agency. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said in a statement that al-Sharif’s arrest was an attempt by Israeli authorities to censor an independent journalist. No Charges had been disclosed as of late year.
Local press freedom groups said al-Sharif had been detained for a short period in October 2010.