October 21, 2011

The exchange earlier this week of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, some of whom were women and children, created waves of emotions on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The general sentiment was celebratory because at the end of the day, thousands of Palestinians, many of whom were incarcerated without due process and a sizable majority of them being ordinary civilians, are returning to loved ones after being in prison for years and a young Israeli soldier is back with his family.

Victory has been claimed on both sides of this prisoner exchange; however, statements from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader, Khaled Mishaal prove the conflict is far from being over. 

Trading one Israeli for a thousand Palestinians shows obvious disparity suggesting that Israel has given the most in this exchange. However, this “simple” exchange ignores the blatant fact that the Palestinians are still stateless, with no citizenship, no rights and no court of appeal. In the 1980's before the first intifada, 20 percent of the adult males of the West Bank had been arrested at one point.

These “freed” prisoners are still subject to the whims of the Israeli occupation and justice. Their property, their freedom and even their lives are forfeit whenever the Israeli government chooses. They still face arrest and imprisonment for resisting that occupation. So is there really freedom in this exchange and release?

The prisoner exchange can be seen as a logical modern tactic of the sticks-and-carrots approach to diplomacy during conflict. However, there is a realistic intention behind the exchange that must be considered -- this was an attempt to quell the nonviolent Palestinian resistance by legitimizing the existence of factions such as Hamas and continuing to resist the demands of self-determination through international law by the Palestinian Authority.

Although Hamas and Israel were able to agree on terms of a prisoner exchange, the two entities continue to undercut each other when it comes to an actual sustainable peace plan. Rather than moving toward the direction of peace and moderation, this move could undermine the peace process because it can be seen as a move to buy more time in maintaining the status quo without recognizing a Palestinian state.

We must be aware that the root of the protracted suffering of the Palestinian people is due to the illegal, immoral and inhumane occupation by the Israeli government. All political maneuvers, by either side, that ignore such a glaring reality will leave the suffering and plight of innocent civilians to be recycled and manifested in one way or another.

The path to peace is not through prisoner exchanges, but through recognizing the fundamental right of Palestinians to statehood and equality. That should be the focus of the United States and the international community.