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Turkey demands Israel to release Palestinian MPs

ANKARA, Jan 23 (KUNA) -- Turkey urged Israel on Monday to release speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Aziz Duwaik and two other PLC members, denouncing their arrests which took place yesterday and today.
The arrest of Duwaik, MPs Mohammad Taffash and Mohammad Totah is in violation of international principles that stipulate protection of lawmakers, the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Israeli action raises doubts over the Jewish state's commitment with the peace process, it added.
While the international community seeks resumption of the peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, it said, the Israeli authorities abort these efforts with such arrests.
"Turkey expects the release of the representatives of the Palestinian people as soon as possible," it said.
Duwaik and Taffash, both Hamas MPs, were arrested in Ramallah yesterday. Totah was arrested from the red cross office in occupied Jerusalem. (end) mm.bs KUNA 232023 Jan 12NNNN