Israel arrests Gaza man who had been invited to US-sponsored technology fair

Published January 13, 2015

Israel has confirmed the arrest of a Gaza man who was detained as he prepared to travel to a U.S.-sponsored cultural event in the West Bank.

Israel's Shin Bet security agency says Alaa Miqbel was arrested this week when he arrived at an Israeli crossing to pick up a travel permit. It says the 30-year-old man belongs to the Islamic Jihad Palestinian militant group and had participated in attacks on Israeli soldiers.

Miqbel works for a nonprofit youth group and had been invited to a technology camp whose sponsors included the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem. His father, Hasan, denied the allegations and said his son is not involved in politics or attacks.

Consulate spokesman Peter Galus confirmed Wednesday that Miqbel had been invited and said participants had been screened for security purposes. He had no details about the arrest.

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