UnionofPalestinianCommunitiesandOrganizations Europe

12June2017

DearMembersofEuropeanParliament;

WewritetodayonbehalfoftheUnionofPalestinianCommunitiesandOrganizationsinEurope
tourgeyoutocondemnthearrestofPalestinianyouthactivistNassarJaradatbythe
PalestinianAuthoritysecurityservicesandcallforhisimmediaterelease.Palestinianyouthin
occupiedPalestinelikeNassardailylivewiththefearofarrest,interrogation,militaryraidsor
evendeathatthehandsofIsraelioccupationforces.Itisunacceptablethattheyshouldalso
havetofeararrestbythePalestinianAuthoritysimplyforexpressingacriticalopinionofthePA
PresidentorotherPalestinianofficials.

NassarJaradatis23,astudentatAlQudsOpenUniversitystudyingagriculturaltechnologyand,
asisthecaseformanyyoungpeopledetainedbyPalestinianAuthoritysecurityforces,aformer
politicalprisonerheldinIsraelijails.Hewasarrestedon8JuneinRamallahbyPalestinian
AuthorityPreventiveSecurityforces;on10Junehisdetentionwasextendedfor15moredays.

ThisarrestisapparentretaliationformakingapostonFacebookcriticizingPAofficialJibril
RajoubforhiscommentsonJerusalemtoIsraeliTV,inwhichRajoubappearedtorecognize
IsraelisovereigntyoverPalestinianholysites.Thisisaclearlypoliticalarrest,whichalsocomes
inconjunctionwithongoingPalestinianAuthority"securitycoordination"withtheIsraeli
occupation.ThispolicyfurtherendangersactivePalestinianyouthlikeNassaronadailybasis.It
istherightofPalestinianstofreelyexpresstheirpoliticalopinions.Itshouldnotbeacceptable
thatthePalestinianAuthorityseekstoconfiscatethatright,alreadystrangledbyIsraeli
occupation.

Everyday,PalestiniansinoccupiedPalestinefacesevererepressionatthehandsofIsraeli
occupationforces,includingongoingpoliticalarrests,lengthyimprisonment,imprisonment
withoutchargeortrial,homedemolitions,landconfiscation,settlementconstruction,denialof
Palestinianrefugees'righttoreturnandextrajudicialkillingsbyIsraeliforces.ThePalestinian
AuthorityhasanobligationtosupportthefreedomsofoccupiedPalestinians,ratherthanadd
anotherlayertotheongoingviolationsofhumanrightsandbasicfreedomsthatthey
experience.

Email:ittihad.pal@gmail.com
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AsPalestiniancommunitiesandorganizationsinEurope,weurgeyoutospeakoutandcallon
thePalestinianAuthoritytoimmediatelyreleaseNassarJaradatandendpoliticalarrestsand
detentionsofPalestinians.WefurtherurgeyoutopressforachangeinEuropeanpolicythat
supportsPalestinianfreedomratherthanencouragingcontinuedrepressionthrough
supportingPalestinianAuthority"securitycoordination"withIsrael.

Asalways,weurgeyouandtheEuropeanCommissiontotakeactionregardingtheongoing
violationofPalestinianrightsbytheIsraelioccupation.Israel'sapartheid,occupationand
colonizationisadailythreattoPalestinianlifeandexistence.TheIsraelistateshouldbesubject
toglobalboycottandseriousinternationalpressuretoabidebyinternationallawandrecognize
andimplementPalestinianhumanrights.EndingtheEU'sAssociationAgreementwithIsrael
andprohibitingIsraelfromreceivingfundsinEUHorizon2020aresmallbutmaterialstepsthat
theEuropeanUnioncantaketoholdIsraelaccountableandsupportPalestinianrightsand
freedom.

Bestregards,

Dr.FawziIsmail
President,UnionofPalestinianCommunitiesandOrganizationsEurope
ittihad.pal@gmail.com

Email:ittihad.pal@gmail.com