Six youths were arrested Monday night in Jerusalem as they were hanging anti-Bush posters ahead of the American president's visit.

The posters depict Bush, Olmert and Peres wearing Palestinian kaffiyehs, with a banner running "accomplices to terror".

The youths told police that they were paid to hang the posters by extreme right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir, of the National Jewish Front.

Ben Gvir was also detained for questioning later in the day. He admitted to having printed the posters, adding that he would continue to do so as it was perfectly within the limits of the law.

He also said police should learn that "free speech is not just for lefties."

A Jerusalem court later released two of the detainees. The judge said that picturing someone wearing a kaffiyeh did not constitute a racist act, and merely testified to the protesters' bad taste.

Police were preparing Tuesday for a string of protests, by both left and right, during the US president's visit. Right-wing activists were expected to try and create a "human chain" around the walls of Jerusalem's Old City, while left-wing activists were planning to hold a protest in front of the American Consulate in Jerusalem.

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