Israel Traffics Palestinian Body Parts, Says Qaraqe’e
Date : 28/8/2011 Time : 23:06
http://www.wafa.ps/english/index.php?action=detail&id=17161

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RAMALLAH, August 28, 2011 (WAFA) – Minister of Prisoners’ Affairs, Issa
Qaraqe, Sunday said that Israel is the largest international trade center
for body parts, due to its continuous trafficking of the remains of
Palestinian bodies, which are held by the Israeli government.

During a speech he delivered in the national day of the Campaign to Recover
the Remains of Palestinians and Arabs from Israel, as well as to reveal the
fate of missing persons in Israel, Qaraqe said Israel is violating the
international law, agreements and norms by continuing to withhold the
remains of Palestinians, which is what he called a 'heinous crime'.

He called to activate the Arab League resolutions in 2009, which demanded to
investigate the Israeli crimes, take legal actions against the occupation
and address this issue in the United Nations Human Rights report.

'Israel is withholding the remains of the murdered to avenge them and their
families, as well as to cover up crimes against their bodies to escape legal
accountability,' he added.

Ali Khashan, the minister of justice, attended the national day and said
that there's no legal or humanitarian reason to withhold remains of the
dead, considering all the Israeli political excuses as 'flimsy'.

He stressed the issue as a 'distinct humanitarian cause,' which strips away
the Palestinian dead rights of a dignified burial in accordance to religious
ceremonies and traditions.

Khashan said that other Arab states are preparing legal files to pursue the
retrieval of their citizens' remains from Israel.

General-Director of Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights organization, Issam
Abu al-Haj, said that the campaign, in cooperation with ministries of
justice and prisoners, documented 338 cases of Israel's withholding remains
of Palestinians and Arabs.

Abu al-Haj questioned the International Red Cross' silence on the matter and
refused Israel's attempts to put the issue to negotiations, despite the fact
that the campaign was able to force Israel to admit to large numbers of
Palestinian and Arab dead.

R.Q./F.R.