Israel: Europe ‘provides a voice for terror’

Israel has sent a strongly worded letter to European governments accusing them of providing “a voice for terror” ahead of meeting on the conditions in which Palestinian detainees are held.

The European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Palestine (DPAL) was due to meet today to at the European Parliament in Strasbourg to discuss the situation of the detainees in light of the Dignity and Freedom Strike by prisoners in Israeli jails.

Fadwa Barghouthi, the wife of the activist Marwan Barghouthi, who led the Freedom and Dignity Strike, is expected to participate in the meeting, as well as Sumud Sa’adat, the daughter of the Ahmed Sa’adat.

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In a statement sent to news agencies and members of the European Parliament, the Israeli Embassy in Belgium launched a vicious attack on the European Parliament’s DPAL, accusing it of sympathising with “terrorists” and using EU institutions to raise the voice of “terrorism” by giving Barghouthi and Sa’adat a chance to meet officials.

The Chairman of DPAL, Neoklis Sylikiotis, criticised Israel’s statement as “outrageous and defamatory”.

“Equating  the voice of family members with a ‘voice for terror’ is insulting and defamatory to  these persons fighting for the basic rights of their imprisoned relatives.”

Such a spurious accusation flies in  the face of the fact that it is Israel that is breaking international law and completely disrespecting human rights.

Some 1,500 Palestinians prisoners went on hunger strike in April demanding improved detention conditions, family visitation rights and access to medical treatment. Their strike lasted 40 days.