PRESS RELEASE

Released @ 1:00 hours GMT, 6^th December, 1998

Palestinian and Arab Prisoners in Israeli Prisons

Begin an Open Hunger Strike

Yesterday, December 5^th, Palestinian and Arab prisoners in the prisons and jails of the Israeli occupation began their hunger strike. This step by Palestinian and Arab prisoners, who number almost 3,000, is the only choice left to them as a result of the continuation of their imprisonment and the Israeli government’s refusal to release them. Although a peaceful atmosphere should prevail in the area, the Israeli government is putting the entire region on the verge of real danger as a result of its measures and policies. These policies are contrary to the spirit of peace and violate the basic rules of international law.

The release of Palestinian and Arab prisoners should be one of the main outcomes of the current peace process. As a result of the end of the state of war between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization there is no justification for the continued incarceration of Palestinian and Arab political prisoners. The entire file of Palestinian and Arab political prisoners should be closed forever if there is to be any chance of moving toward real peace.

In the context of the deteriorating detention situation, the continuing imprisonment of Palestinians and Arabs in Israeli prisons imperils the lives of the prisoners, many of whom are already gravely ill. Moreover, the Israeli policy of insisting on not releasing the prisoners means that they will keep them as hostages for political bargaining.

PCHR fully supports the just demands of the Palestinian and Arab political prisoners. They should be immediately released and not subjected to any further bargaining. PCHR holds the Israeli government fully responsible for all the consequences related to the ongoing hunger strike. PCHR demands that the international community, whether governments or international organizations, work directly, effectively, and without delay to ensure their release. PCHR also demands that the government of the United States of America, if it wants to be effective in pushing the peace process forward, endeavor to ensure the full and immediate release of the Palestinian and Arab prisoners.