IPS: Palestinian inmates' demands examined

On backdrop of hunger strike launched by hundreds of Palestinian prisoners protesting incarceration conditions, Prison Service chief Franco meets their leaders, including Barghouti at Hadarim jail. PA: Rest of prisoners will join strike if demands not met

Elior Levy, Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 04.30.12 , 20:16

Israel Prison Service Commissioner Aharon Franco spoke with representatives of Palestinian prisoners, led by Marwan Barghouti, Ynet reported Monday.

The IPS stressed that the meeting at Hadarim Prison was not planned and was conducted during a routine visit to the jail.

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The meeting was held on the backdrop of a hunger strike launched two weeks ago by some 1,200 Palestinian prisoners protesting the conditions of their incarceration.

The Palestinian Prisoner Affairs Ministry said Franco told the representatives that a "special committee set up to examine the prisoners' requests has completed its work and will submit its response within 10 days."

The ministry further claimed that the prisoners "asked Franco to address their demands - including an end to the solitary confinement policy and the denial of visits by family members from Gaza." The inmates are also demanding improved medical treatment and the same right to study as criminal prisoners, the ministry said.

The Palestinians said that apart from Barghouti, the meeting was also attended by senior Islamic Jihad terrorist Tabaat Mardawi and Hamas terrorist Abed al-Nasser Isa.

Palestinian Authority Prisoners Affairs Minister Issa Qaraqi warned that if the prisoners' demands would not be met by Wednesday, "all Palestinian prisoners held in Israel" would join the hunger strike.

You can contact Elior Levy, Ynet's Palestinian Affairs Correspondent, at: paldesk@gmail.com