The Inter-Parliamentary Union is alarmed at the arrest and detention of Mr. Abdelaziz El-Dweik, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, the elected Palestinian parliament.

The IPU calls upon the Israeli authorities to show restraint and respect for the parliamentary mandate and the institution of parliament, the presidency of which was entrusted to Mr. Dweik following the elections held earlier this year. It therefore calls on the Israeli authorities to release him forthwith along with the other members of the Palestinian Legislative Council who were arrested in June last.

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Established in 1889 and with its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the IPU, the oldest multilateral political organisation, currently brings together 146 affiliated parliaments and seven regional assemblies as associate members. The world organisation of parliaments has an Office in New York, which acts as its Permanent Observer at the United Nations.
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