Tunis — The International Conference in Support of Palestinian Prisoners in Israeli Jails starts on Saturday in Tunis and is expected to be crowned with the setting up of the "Tunis office to support Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails."

The conference, held by civil society organisations in Tunisia and Europe, aims to raise the awareness of western public opinion and media as to the need to support the cause of Palestinian prisoners, the end being, according to the organisers, to put pressure on Israel to free thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

The conference will be attended by several prisoners released and children of prisoners held in Israeli jails as well as international law experts .

Caretaker President Moncef Marzouki will open the conference works.

The Ambassador of Palestine in Tunis Salmen El Herfi told on Friday to TAP news agency that he had not been informed or consulted about this conference, adding that the holding of such a conference had been discussed at a meeting between Mahmoud Abbas and Moncef Marzouki during the last visit of the Palestinian president in Tunisia and it had been agreed to hold this conference on December 10, 2012 in Baghdad within the framework of the Arab league.