Written question asked by Lord Hylton (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Thursday, 24 May 2007.

Israel: Detention

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Whether they received copies of the recent report from the Centre for the Defence of the Individual and B’Tselem (the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories) about Israel's detention and interrogation practices; if so, what conclusions they draw; and when they last discussed these matters with the Government of Israel.

Answer: We have not received copies of this report but we are aware of the allegations of torture and other interrogation practices and detention conditions about which there may be cause for concern. We continue to monitor the situation with regard to Palestinian prisoners and regularly raise our concerns with the Israeli authorities. Our ambassador in Tel Aviv last raised this with the Israeli Government on 10 January. In addition, the International Committee of the Red Cross continues to have access to Israeli prisons and detention centres in Israel and the West Bank, and monitors conditions in Israeli prisons on a regular basis.

Secondary information