The Palestinian Authority on Thursday arrested three of its residents who on Wednesday committed the crime of paying a visit to the Sukkah of Peace, an annual celebration of the holiday of Sukkot and the Jewish outreach to our neighbors, offered by Oded Revivi, head of the Efrat local council in Gush Etzion, Judea, Israel’s Channel 2 News reported.
The celebration attracted more than a hundred guests, and was an opportunity for Arab dignitaries from nearby Bethlehem and Hebron to mingle with senior IDF and Israel Police officials, including IDF Operations Dept. Head Major General Alon Nitzan, Judea and Samaria Police District Commander Superintendent Moshe Bareket, Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brigadier General Lior Carmeli, and Etzion Brigade Commander Roman Gofman.
Maj. Gen. Nitzan commented that many disputes can be resolved in this kind of gathering, “including security challenges.”
Revivi told the news channel that he and his council are trying to intervene on behalf of his arrested guests. “Everyone who was present at the sukkah on Wednesday felt the excitement that surrounded this unique event,” Revivi said. “Officers and civilians, Jews and Muslims, sitting together and examining ways to create better neighborly relationships, and how to forge a future of peace.”
“The fact that the Palestinian Authority has chosen to summon for questioning our Palestinian neighbors who had come to drink coffee with us only shows what a great challenge we’re dealing with,” Revivi noted.
