New Zealand Peacemaker Arrested In Hebron

CPTers arrested in Hebron

By Nicholas Klassen

HEBRON - On Thursday November 4, Joe Carr (Kansas City, MO) and Christina Gibb (Dunedin, NZ) were arrested by Israeli police at the Beit Romano military checkpoint close to the Old City of Hebron. Carr and Gibb had been taking notes for an hour as part of CPT's checkpoint watch. The team had initiated the checkpoint watch recently in an effort to quantify the number of Palestinians who pass by the checkpoint, and the percentage of those who are detained.

After over two weeks of taking notes on a daily basis in full view of the military, this particular group of soldiers determined that people taking notes at a checkpoint posed a security risk. The soldiers confiscated the log books Gibb and Carr were writing in and held their passports.

The police arrived shortly thereafter, and after some discussion, took them to Kiryat Arba police station. They are currently awaiting charges. The US consulate and the New Zealand trade emissary have been contacted and asked to intervene.

The arrest comes at a time when CPTers have been under increased scrutiny by the police, the army and even the Shin Bet (secret service).

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