U.S. Teenager Held in Israel After Arrest at Protest

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is confirming that a 15-year-old American citizen is being held by Israeli authorities for his alleged role in protests earlier this month in East Jerusalem.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Monday that considering his age, the U.S. is calling for a speedy resolution to the case of Mohamed Abu Nie.

Psaki (SAH'-kee) says he's been held since being arrested on July 3 on various charges alleging that he threw rocks, attacked police, was carrying a knife and was leading protests linked to the ongoing unrest between Israel and Hamas (huh-MAHS').

Psaki says the U.S. also is concerned about allegations that he might have been beaten while in custody.

The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv is assisting Nie and is in contact with his family and his lawyer.

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