BookingAir

JERUSALEM – An Israeli rights group is accusing police in Jerusalem of improperly arresting Palestinian boys suspected of throwing stones.

Amer Arouri of Israeli group B'tselem says the nighttime raids took place in an east Jerusalem neighborhood where tensions between Jewish settlers and Palestinian residents are high. Most were arrested for throwing rocks and damaging property.

Arouri says 40 boys have been taken into custody over the past year, half of them 14 or younger. Most were detained, interrogated and charged. B'tselem says Israeli laws prohibits children from being interrogated without a guardian.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police would continue arresting anyone wanted for vandalism in keeping with Israeli law.