A foreign artist paints on the Israeli wall a mural depicting Palestinian teen Ahed Tamimi who is detained by Israel, next to a mural of dead Palestinian nurse Razan Al-Najar, in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank, July 25, 2018. Reuters/Mussa Qawasma
RAMALLAH: Israeli border police on Saturday arrested two Italian graffiti artists who were painting a mural of a jailed Palestinian teenager, Ahed Tamimi, on the Israeli separation barrier in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian officials.
Tamimi, now 17, was sent to prison for assault after being filmed kicking and slapping an Israeli soldier late last year, when she was 16. She is due to be released on Sunday.
Tamimi became a heroine to Palestinians after the Dec. 15 incident outside her home in the village of Nabi Saleh was streamed live on Facebook by her mother and went viral.
An Israeli police spokesman did not return a call for comment.
The Palestine Liberation Organisation said on Twitter that Israeli forces had arrested the two Italian artists and a Palestinian who was with them.
Israel maintains control over most of the West Bank, where the Palestinians have limited self-rule.
Most countries consider Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal, something Israel disputes. (Reporting by Ali Sawafta; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
