Body:

Public Services International (PSI), a global federation of public service unions, is calling for the release of the democratically elected Palestinian National Authority Minister of Labor, Mohammed Barghouthis. Barghouthis and some of his colleagues have been held in Israeli prison for over 20 days.

According to the Palestine Health Services Union, they are being detained in horrific conditions and subjected to abusive interrogations.

PSI General Secretary Hans Engelberts said their detention is “on political grounds only. The current Palestinian Legislative Council was elected by a democratic process and its members should not be arrested for the mere fact that they are taking part in the government… We call upon the Israeli government to release the Minister of Labor and others immediately.”

Write a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert demanding the immediate release of Mohammed Barghouthis and his colleagues. Send your letter to the Israeli Mission for your country. (In the USA: Embassy of Israel, 3514 International Drive, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008.) Or fax your letter to 00972-2-5664838, or email pm_eng@it.pmo.gov.il. You can also visit www.world-psi.org for more details.

Expiration Date:
Sun, 10/08/2006 - 6:00pm