A Palestinian activist who was a well-known critic of the Palestinian Authority’s leadership has died after being arrested by its security forces. Palestinian officers detained Nizar Banat at his home near the occupied West Bank city of Hebron overnight. Mr Banat’s family have alleged that he was badly beaten during the raid. Hebron Governor Jamil al-Bakri said the public prosecution had issued a summons for Mr Banat and that “during the arrest his health deteriorated”. “He was immediately transferred to the Hebron Government Hospital. After he was examined by doctors, he was pronounced dead,” he added, without commenting on the family’s allegations. Human rights groups have accused the Palestinian security forces, which receive international funding, of routinely arresting and torturing peaceful critics and opponents to crush dissent. However, deaths in custody are rare. The PA governs parts of the West Bank that are not under full Israeli control.(BBC)…[+]