CONTINUED DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN MPS

Early day motion 2880, tabled 30 October 2006 by Ann Clwyd (Labour). Signed by 76 members.

That this House notes that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, at its 115th Assembly in Geneva on 16th to 18th October, at which 128 countries were represented, expressed its deep concern about the sweeping arrests of 35 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council; notes that the Parliamentarians in question stood in the January elections, which the international community, including Israel, considered to have been free, fair and secure; is deeply concerned that the arrests not only prevent the Parliamentarians concerned - a third of the elected Hamas representatives - from carrying out the mandates for which they were elected but also greatly impairs the right of the Palestinian people to be represented by persons of their choice; and urges the Israeli authorities to release the Parliamentarians concerned forthwith or to charge them without delay with a recognisable criminal offence and to try them in a fair and transparent legal process, guaranteeing full right of defence, as required under international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Signatures by party: Labour 49, Liberal Democrat 13, Conservative 7, Scottish National Party 3, Plaid Cymru 2, Independent Labour 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.