[Greens-Media] Labor and Liberal oppose rights of Palestinian MPs

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

Labor and Liberal oppose rights of Palestinian MPs

12.09.07

Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today expressed disappointment that the
major parties could not support a motion defending the rights of all MPs
to freely pursue their duties and calling for the release of the
Palestinian Members of Parliament kidnapped and imprisoned by the
Israeli security forces.

"This exact motion was supported unanimously by the New Zealand
parliament," Senator Nettle said.

"It is a real concern that neither major party can support a motion
calling for the release of parliamentarians who have been abducted and
imprisoned by forces from another country.

"The European Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union have both
called for the immediate release of the Palestinian parliamentarians.

"The Greens call for the release of all political prisoners in Israel
and Palestine immediately as an essential step toward peace in the
region."


Senator Nettle's Motion

The Senate

(a)	supports the right of parliamentarians to freely pursue their
duties;
	 
(b)	notes the opposition of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the
European Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament to Israel's arrest of
more than 20 	members of the Palestinian parliament;  
	 
and

(c)	calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the
Palestinian Speaker, the Deputy Prime Minister and the other arrested
Ministers and members 	of the Palestinian Parliament


Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146