EU socialists call for immediate release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails

The Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Tuesday expressed deep concern about the mounting tension in Palestine following the death of Arafat Jaradat in Israeli custody. "The tragic case of Arafat Jaradat draws attention again to the situation of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, which is a daily concern for thousands of Palestinian families," said Group vice-president, Veronique De Keyser, in press staements. "We continue to call for an immediate end to the Israeli authorities' use of administrative detention and for the release of Palestinian political prisoners and administrative detainees," she said. "We also insist on a serious and impartial investigation into the death of Arafat Jaradat and for those responsible to be brought to justice. At the same time, we propose that the European Parliament sends a fact-finding mission to Israeli jails where Palestinians are detained," said the Belgian Member of the European Parliament. "We continue to support President Abbas' policy of non-violent resistance with the aim of finding a just and lasting peace between the Israelis and Palestinians," added the staement. The Group of Socialists and Democrats is the second-largest political group in the European Parliament.