ISRAELI DETENTION OF LEBANESE PRISONERS

Early day motion 860, tabled 21 July 1999 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House welcomes the visit of Mr Ehud Barak, the Israeli Prime Minister, to Britain but calls upon him to address the continuing illegal detention by the Israel authorities of Bilal Abd al-Husayu Dakrub and other Lebanese prisoners long after the expiry of their sentences in complete contravention of Israel's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; and draws his attention to the admission in the 1998 judgement of the Israeli Supreme Court that such detention involves 'damage to basic human rights' but is justified in the Court's view because the detainees 'may be of use during negotiations' as 'bargaining chips'; and urges him to intervene to secure the early release of these prisoners.

Signatures by party: Labour 17, Conservative 2, Liberal Democrat 1.