On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 13th, Geneva Initiative welcomed Brig. Gen. (ret.) Ilan Paz in its Tel Aviv offices for a lecture on the issue of prisoners, central to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

20 people who had participated in previous Geneva Initiative activities and had shown an interest in attending future events attended the lecture. Among the audience members were young as well as veteran leaders, and a vibrant discussion followed the lecture.

Paz opened his lecture with an overview of the issue of prisoners, providing participants with historical background, statistical date, and figures pertaining to the number of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. He explained that out of 11,000 security prisoners and detainees in Israeli jails, some 2,500 have not yet begun legal procedures. Most of the prisoners held in Israel belong to the Fatah movement and an overwhelming majority is from the West Bank.

Paz also explained that the term "blood on their hands" has no legal bearing and is strictly a political term, defined by a government decision. Thus, while only 750 prisoners are serving one or more life sentences for direct involvement in terrorism and murder, some 7,500 are regarded as having "blood on their hands" and cannot be released according to the government's standards.

Paz went on to describe the prisoners' leadership and the key role it plays in Palestinian society, accepted by Palestinians from across the political spectrum. He told the audience about a track 2 document he drafted along with other Israelis and Palestinian that offers an alternative approach to the issue of prisoners, and stressed that the document would have had the full support of the prisoners' leadership were the governments to adopt it.

The document suggests that instead of keeping the prisoners in jail as a bargaining chip (or rather, a burden as he sees it), Israel should agree with the prisoners' leadership on a timeline for release, with prisoners with the least serious offences being released first, the next least serious being released second, and so on. These releases would be contingent on Palestinian behavior, and as long as things are quiet on the ground, things would proceed according to schedule. Those serving at least 1 life sentence would not be released according to the timeline until a final status agreement is reached, whereupon all remaining prisoners would return to their homes.

Paz also discussed the importance of taking steps that could serve to strengthen the moderates, President Mahmoud Abbas, and the diplomatic approach. He said Israel had done too much to weaken Palestinian moderates in recent years, and the results may soon become irreversible.