Pals criticize store surveillance cameras - because they can be used to identify terrorists

Palestinian shop owners, like shopkeepers around the world, use surveillance cameras to deter and identify shoplifters.

But Palestine Today reports that some officials are saying that shopkeepers should take their cameras down.

The reason? Because Israeli forces sometime use the footage to identify "resistance activities" and they arrest people as a result!

In recent months, we are told, Israeli forces managed to arrest dozens of people based on information found on the surveillance videos, in east Jerusalem and parts of the West Bank.

Alaa al-Rimawi, an expert on this topic, says that having cameras pointing in the direction of the street provides a treasure trove of information about young men throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.

Another official said that "We know that the purpose of these cameras is to protect shops from theft," but because they are under occupation, and the occupation will benefit from the cameras so it is better not to use them.

He added, that "we as Palestinians are in an exceptional situation, we must put the national interest for private interests."

The idea of discouraging kids from throwing stones and firebombs at Jews doesn't occur to them.

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