Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 February 2012
72 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts he has made to intervene and save the life of Khadar Adnan, held in administrative detention in Israel for over 60 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9625/12]
View answerI am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. Khadar Adnan is generally acknowledged to be a leader of Islamic Jihad. I have been very concerned that Mr. Adnan's hunger strike has now reached the point where his health is likely to be seriously endangered. My Department and the Embassy in Tel Aviv has been active in raising our concerns over this serious case with the Israeli authorities and requesting that all possible steps be taken which would allow Mr. Adnan to end his hunger strike. At Ireland's request, the EU has also raised this case locally with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, expressing concern for Mr Adnan's health and the fact that he continues to be shackled to his hospital bed and reiterating the EU's long-standing concerns about the widespread use of administrative detention.
Ireland and our EU Partners have been active for some time in raising the practice of administrative detention and urging the Israeli authorities to move away from and end its use. Such representations appear to have had some effect, with the overall numbers in administrative detention falling considerably in recent years. We will continue to press on this issue as well as on the specific case of Mr. Adnan.
I understand today from our officials on the ground that an understanding may have been reached in the last few hours which would include Mr. Adnan immediately ending his hunger strike. I am awaiting confirmation of this, but I am very hopeful that this is the case.
