Brussels, 04/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption by a clear majority (416 to 136 and 61 abstentions), on Thursday 4 September in Brussels, of a presentation by four political groups (PES, ALDE, Greens/EFA and GUE), the European Parliament welcomes the recent decision taken by the Israeli government to release a significant number of Palestinian prisoners. It calls on Israel and Hamas to take measures with a view to the immediate release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.
The EP considers that substantial release of Palestinian prisoners, as well as the imprisoned members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, “could serve as a positive step to establish the climate of mutual trust needed to make substantial progress in the peace negotiations”. It calls on Israel to: - guarantee that minimum standards of detention are respected; - bring all detainees to trial; - put an end to “administrative detention”; and to take appropriate measures for minors and for visits to prisoners. The EP states its concern at the situation of the Palestinian women imprisoned and other vulnerable prisoners, who are reportedly subjected to mistreatment and lack of access to health care.
Furthermore, the EP invites the Palestinian Authority to make every effort to prevent any violent or terrorist acts, particularly by former prisoners, especially children. Finally, MEPs state their belief that the upgrading of EU-Israel relations should be consistent with and linked to compliance by the state of Israel of all obligations incumbent upon it under international law and, in this context, they welcome the decision reached at the eighth meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council to establish a fully-fledged subcommittee on human rights replacing the current working group on human rights.
According to MEPs, over 11,000 Palestinians, including hundreds of women and children, are currently held in Israeli prisons or detention centres. (L.C./transl.jl)