RAMALLAH, February 7, 2011 (WAFA) – Minister of Prisoners Affairs Issa Qaraqi urged on Monday United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay to have a bigger role in defending rights of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Qaraqi told Pillay during a meeting held at his Ramallah office, that he is planning to take the prisoners matter to the International Court of Justice at The Hague to seek an advisory opinion on the legal status of detainees in Israeli jails.

Pillay, according to Qaraqi, was surprised by the size of numbers and statics shown to her on prisoners stating her interest in improving the performance of the HRC office in Palestine.

Pillay is on an official visit to the Palestinian areas and Israel which started Sunday. She is scheduled to meet Palestinian and Israeli officials during her visit, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

T.R./M.A.