Israel offers to deport hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner to third country

Tarek Issawi and Laila Issawi, pose for a portrait next to pictures of their son Samer Issawi at their home in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiyeh, Thursday, April 11, 2013. Detainee Samer Issawi has been on a hunger strike since August when he was detained. His health condition is considered grave and he has been hospitalized now for several weeks. Issawi was sentenced to 26 years in prison for his involvement in a series of shooting attacks targeting Israeli police cars and students at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Issawi was also freed as part of the 2011 prisoner exchange and was re-arrested for violating his release conditions. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) (The Associated Press)

Palestinian women wave green Islamic and national flags during a support rally for Palestinian prisoners who are held at Israeli jails, in Gaza City, Thursday, April 11, 2013. Nearly 5,000 Palestinians are being held in Israeli prisons according to prisons authority spokeswoman Sivan Weizman. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) (The Associated Press)

An official says Israel has offered to deport a hunger-striking Palestinian prisoner to Europe or a U.N. member country in an effort to reach a compromise over the case.

However, Samer Issawi's lawyer, Jawad Bulous, says he refuses to be deported.

The Israeli official says the prime minister's office made the offer after E.U. and U.N. officials expressed concern about Issawi's health. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.

A spokesman for the E.U. in Israel, David Kriss, says it didn't receive an official offer.

Issawi was sentenced to 26 years prison for attacks on Israelis. He was released as part of a 2011 deal, but Israel later accused him of militant activity and rearrested him.

Israel has reached similar deals before to deport prisoners.