Israel military sources have confirmed the arrest of the Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Mr. Abdel Aziz Duwaik, while he was resting at his home in the city of Ramala.

This action by the Israel government is a grave violation of the most basic standards of International Law and an unacceptable offense to the parliaments and parliamentarians of the entire world, stunned by the attitude of absolute disrespect for a parliament that was duly elected by its people.

By doing this, the human rights and the legality of the electoral process that took place in that territory are violated. A territory that is being attacked in a barbaric way by the Zionist troops with a conservative figure of more than 160 people killed, among them many children and women, as well as more than 700 others seriously wounded. Added to this tragedy is the massive destruction of the wealth of that nation and its destabilization.

We are making an urgent appeal to the parliaments and parliamentarians of the world demanding respect for the physical integrity of Mr. Abdel Aziz Duwaik and his immediate release, along with that of the rest of the members of the Palestinian Legislative Council arrested during the month of June.

City of Havana, August 8, 2006