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Israel and Palestine: Jericho Prison

Answer

There was no collusion before the withdrawal. The UK and US consul-generals issued a joint US/UK letter to President Abbas on 8 March 2006, which noted that if the Palestinian Authority (PA) did not: come into full compliance with the Ramallah agreement; make substantive improvements to the security of the monitors; or came to a new agreement with the government of Israel, we would have to withdraw our monitors with immediate effect. In accordance with our obligations under the Ramallah agreement, our ambassador in Tel Aviv informed the Israeli authorities that we were delivering a letter in these terms on 8 March. It was considered too dangerous to inform either Israel or the Palestinian Authority of the actual date of withdrawal. On 15 December 2005, our Deputy Head of Mission in Jerusalem informed the PA President’s Office, that we were concerned about security and that if we felt that the PA could not provide adequate security, we would withdraw the monitors. We also raised our concerns on at least five separate occasions after this point. On 17 and 22 February, our ambassador in Tel Aviv informed the Israeli authorities that we might have to withdraw from the mission due to security concerns. On 10 March, our ambassador in Tel Aviv contacted the Israeli authorities to urge that Israel exercise caution if the monitors had to withdraw. The location of the prison meant that it could be observed by Israeli Defence Forces, including when the monitors left the prison.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

4753; 680 c84WA

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Armed conflict Prisons Monitoring Security Israel Palestine Middle East Jericho

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk