Israel abducts Palestinian lawmaker in west Bank

Israeli commandos abducted a prominent pro-Hamas member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and his son after raiding his house in Bitunia near the West Bank city of Ramallah.According to the Palestinian sources, the Israeli Army raided Hassan Yousef's house on Tuesday and took him and his son, Oweis, to an unknown place. Yousef was released from jail only two months ago after serving a six-year term in Israel's Ofer prison. Hamas was quick to condemn the arrest, stressing that the raid and abduction of the Palestinian lawmaker was a proof of "Israeli escalation against Hamas", and took the Zionist regime responsible for the ongoing crimes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The movement called on the international, Islamic and Arab bodies to play a stronger role in supporting the Palestinian nation, its fighters and leaders. Israel has abducted 13 Palestinians since Monday. Israel is holding 22 Palestinian lawmakers, 19 of them from Hamas, two from Fatah and a member of the National Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Last month Israel was obliged to release over a thousand Palestinian prisoners in return for the life of one of its soldiers. Observers believe that after decades of failed negotiations, Hamas and other Palestinian groups have no way out but reciprocating Israeli escalations and moves, including abduction of the Zionists.