The Israeli Occupying Forces restrict the freedom of movements of a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council ( PLC )
Date: 3rd May 2000
Ref: 52/2000
On 3rd May 2000, Mr Waji Yaghi, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), demonstrated in the PLC premises in Gaza city, against the Israeli action preventing him from moving between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
For the year 2000, the Israeli occupying Forces renewed the VIP identity passage of all the other PLC members. However, Mr Waji Yaghi was denied such card.
PCHR was informed that Mr. Yaghi has been subjected to systematic harassment at the Israeli checkpoints. On 2nd May 2000, on his way back to Gaza from a PLC session in Ramallah, Mr Waji Yaghi was stopped by an Israeli officer and asked to submit his VIP card, in exchange for a three months permission, which does not provide the benefits of the VIP card. Mr. Yaghi produced it but refused to hand it over. He subsequently informed the Council Speaker of the incident and announced that he will not attend further Council sessions outside the Gaza governorates
PCHR condemns the arbitrary Israeli action against a PLC’s member which violates the basic human right to freedom of movement. Furthermore, this measure restricts the Legislative Authority to carry out its functions. PCHR recalls similar measures carried out by Israel in the last few years which restricted the free movement of the PLC’s members collectively or individually. Such measures prevented the holding of the PLC’s session for many times.
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