Two Italian artists leave Israel after arrest over Ahed Tamimi mural

painting the mural of Ahed Tamimi of the wall

Times of Israel staff and agencies write,  “A lawyer for two Italian artists said Monday they had left Israel after being arrested for painting a large mural of a formerly imprisoned teenage Palestinian protester on the West Bank security barrier. Lawyer Azmi Masalha said the Italians left Israel on Monday morning. He said Israel has barred them for 10 years from entering the country again. On Sunday authorities arrested the two and rescinded their visas, threatening them with expulsion from country if they did not leave voluntarily.”

“Police said that the two were arrested over “suspicion of vandalizing and damaging the security fence in the Bethlehem area,” and were transferred to the Administration of Border Crossings, Population and Immigration following interrogation. The authority decided to “cancel their temporary visas for Israel and allow them to leave the country within 72 hours,” a police statement said. “If they fail to comply they will be expelled,” police added. A Palestinian who had been arrested with the Italians on Saturday was also freed, since he was not strongly involved in their activities, the statement said.”…Border police said on Saturday that troops had arrested the two Italians and a Palestinian — all masked — after they ‘illegally drew on the wall.’ ‘When border policemen took action to arrest them, they tried to escape in their car, which was stopped by the forces,’ the police said in a statement.”   (more…)