Palestinian prisoners strike after inmate death

         
Thousands of Palestinian prisoners launched a one-day fast to commemorate an inmate who died in Israeli custody Sunday after days of protests in support of four hunger-strikers.  

Israel's prison service said 3,000 Palestinian prisoners went on the fast after 30-year-old Arafat Shalish Shahin Jaradat died Saturday. The death came after more than a week of clashes at protests in support of four long-term Palestinian hunger strikers in Israeli jails.                  

Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has called for a comprehensive investigation. It said the police inquiry must include the "full circumstances" surrounding his death, including how he was treated during questioning by Israel's domestic intelligence agency, Shin Bet.                     

The agency said Jaradat was arrested on Feb. 18 after residents in his West Bank village of Saeer said he was involved in a rock-throwing attack that injured an Israeli citizen. Jaradat admitted to the charge, as well to another West Bank rock-throwing incident last year, Shin Bet said in a statement.                    

Jaradat suffered from back pain and had been injured in the past by a rubber bullet and tear gas canister, the Shin Bet statement said, adding that he was examined a few times by a doctor who detected no health problems, and his interrogation continued.


AP