By NNN-WAFA,
Ramallah : Kyriakos Triantaphyllides, head of the European Parliament (EP) delegation to the occupied Palestinian territories, has expressed “very deep disappointment” over Israel’s refusal to allow the delegation to visit Palestinians detained in Israeli prisons.
In a press conference held Sunday at the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) here, Triantaphyllides said that the EP’s mission was a follow-up to a resolution made at the EP to visit PLC members behind bars in Israel.
The EP delegation members were kept waiting for over an hour in the Hadarim Prison corridor, but permission was denied. The EP president has sent a letter to Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni seeking permission.
He added that they were very disappointed not only because they were not allowed to visit PLC members on humanitarian basis but also because they could not meet with them on political basis.
He said that they will try to get permission to visit Gaza on Monday, even though, from what they saw until now, they do not expect to get the permission.
Triantaphyllides also said that the European Union had not taken much political action, but, “championed” in economic aid, and they will file a report to the EU recommending that it plays a more effective political role in the peace process.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Abdullah, head of the PLC Political Committee, said that the Palestinian PLC members discussed with the EP delegation details on the condition of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, especially Jerusalemite prisoners, who are categorised as Palestinian prisoners and not treated differently from the other Palestinian prisoners.
Commenting on the EP delegation’s visit, he said: “This visit is proof of the success of our actions on the international level.”
The EP delegation consists of eight members of the European Parliament delegation for relations with the PLC, whose role is to maintain and develop relations with elected PLC members.