The ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) arrested Israeli Arab journalist Majd Kayyal on Shabbos, 12 Nissan 5774 when he returned to Israel from Lebanon. He was in Beirut for three weeks according to reports.

He was taken into custody for visiting a hostile country. Majd, a resident of Haifa, was imprisoned and prevented from meeting with his attorney. There was a gag order on the arrest which was lifted on Thursday, 17 Nissan.

The 23-year-old journalist flew to Jordan and then to Beirut on Saturday, 20 Adar II to attend a conference. Family members quoted in the daily Haaretz explained the meeting was significant for Majd, who spoke of the opportunity to meet with reporters from the entire Arab world. Family members deny suspicions that his visit was for illegal purposes, demanding his immediate release.

Kayyal is active with the Balad party, which is in the Knesset opposition. He was and remains an outspoken opponent of the government plan to relocate Bedouins in the Negev known as the Prawer Plan. He is also active with the Adalah Arab civil rights organization. He was among those on board a vessel heading from Turkey to break the Gaza marine blockade by the Israel Navy in 2011, and he was arrested at that time.

The “Palestinian Journalist Union” condemns the arrest and what it calls the ongoing effort to “silence the voices of Palestinian journalists”. A protest is planned to demand his release on Thursday night in Haifa.

Shin Bet officials report he obtained documentation to visit Lebanon from the PA (Palestinian Authority).

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)