European Parliament resolution on Arafat Jaradat and situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails

The European Parliament voted Thursday in favor of a resolution on the case of the Palestinian prisoner who recently died in Israeli jail, Arafat Jaradat, and the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

The EU Parliament voted also for sending the fact-finding mission, and called on Israel to cooperate and to open an immediate, independent and transparent investigation into the death of Jaradat, as well as many other issues regarding the situation of Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons.

Jaradat, 30, died while in Israel’s Megiddo Prison in February. His death, of an apparent heart attack, set off a wave of protests in the West Bank.

The EU expressed concern regarding the harsh living conditions, and constant harassment, Palestinian detainees face in Israeli detention facilities, including collective punishment practiced against them, and inhumane and illegal sanction imposed on them.

EU resolution  called on Israel to change its policies regarding Administrative Detention policies, and said that Israel must release all detainees held under these policies without charges or trial, or file clear charges against them so that they can be send to court as long as Israel provides guarantees that such courts will be legitimate and follow International Law.

The EU wants to closely examine the situation of the Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons, especially the detained women and children, and to get a closer look at Israel’s administrative detention policy.

The resolution called on the Israeli authorities to “promptly open independent, impartial and transparent investigations into the circumstances of the death of Jaradat as well as into all cases of allegation of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of Palestinian prisoners.”

The resolution expressed also a “deep concern about the situation and health condition of Palestinian detainees on extended hunger strike.” It called “once again for the immediate release of all imprisoned members of the Palestinian Legislative Council including Marwan Barghouti.”

 

You can download the full resolution here