Erekat urges world to release prisoner on hunger strike

PLO Executive Committee member Saeb Erekat Tuesday urged the United Nations (UN), US, and France to intervene to release Khader Adnan, the prisoner who has been on hunger strike for the 59th day in a row to protest his detention without charge or trial, according to a press release published by Erekat office. Erekat held the Israeli government completely responsible for Adnan’s life, and stressed the importance of an immediate international intervention to address the issue of the prisoners as one of the final status issues. He stressed that the Israeli consecutive governments did not uphold any signed agreements regarding the prisoners issue, especially Sharm El Sheikh Agreement in 1999, which stated to release Palestinian prisoners arrested before 1994. Erekat emphasized that the Israeli government continues not to resume the final status negotiations by its refusal to halt settlement activities, including East Jerusalem, and refusal to accept the principle of the two-state solution based on 1967 borders. He called on the international community to question the Israeli government for its illegal policies that violate international law and signed agreements. Erekat’s statements came following separate meetings with the special UN coordinator for the Middle East peace process, Robert Serry, US Consul General Daniel Rubenstein, and the Consul General of France in Jerusalem, Frédéric Desagneaux.