Press Release

Ref: 55/2000

Date: May 4, 2000

Japanese Ambassador Catsoshi Hiashi has visited the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. He has met with Mr. Raji El-Sourani, Director General of PCHR. They have discussed several issues on the Palestinian and Israeli agendas. Mr. El-Sourani has talked about systematic and frequent Israeli violations, specially in regard to settlement, land confiscation, closures and the Safe Passage procedures which have transferred it into a non-safe passage.

Mr. El-Sourani has also reviewed the situation of Palestinian and Arab prisoners in Israeli jails, on the basis of Geneva Fourth Convention and international conventions which Israel violates. He has FURNISHED THE Ambassador with some reports and documents of PCHR in this regard. The meeting has also considered the performance of the Palestinian Legislative Council, civil judiciary and state security courts and relevant problems.

Ambassador Hiashi has expressed his appreciation of PCHR’s efforts against human rights violations and for enhancing the principles of law and democracy prevalence.