The secular-based Fatah faction has arrested Muslims who eat or drink in public during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when the custom is to fast during the day. The arrests represent moves by Fatah to compete with the religious-based Hamas faction.
A 12-member morality squad has been operating in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority (PA) government, to find offenders of the daily fast, the Associated Press reported. "If anybody violates this respect publicly in the street, we take their identity papers and hold them for investigation," said PA police officer Murah Kendah. Other squads are to operate in other cities in Judea and Samaria.