Bethlehem, West Bank, May 09: Israeli soldiers arrested three volunteers of the international solidarity movement in a raid today on the office near here of the group, engaged in non-violent resistance to the occupation of the Palestinian territories, the ism spokesman said. "The army invaded our office and arrested three people. Two are internationals and another is a Palestinian. They also took a lot of equipment, computers and hard disks," said Ghassan Andoni, an ISM member who witnessed the raid on the groups' premises in the town of Beit Sahur. Palestinian witnesses said the building, which houses the ISM main office for the Palestinian territories, was surrounded by 15 armoured vehicles and searched by soldiers, who emerged with two foreigners and computers. A Palestinian source close to the ISM in Beit Sahur said the raid was linked to the investigation into the April 30 suicide bombing by a British national in Tel Aviv that left three fatal victims. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, said the Army is checking whether the ISM, which uses foreigners as human shields to protect Palestinian civilians from the Army, helped the bomber enter Israel.

Andoni said the soldiers gave no explanation when they entered the office, and he denied any link between the ISM and the suicide bomber, Assif Mohammad Hanif.

Bureau Report