The Mandela Institute for Human Rights affirms that Israeli policy towards Arab and Palestinian political prisoners is responsible for the recent actions by Hizballah. The Lebanese resistance movement captured three Israeli soldiers on 7 October 2000. They announced the soldiers would be exchanged for all Lebanese prisoners held in Israeli captivity. Mandela s extensively bitter experience with Israeli occupation authorities proved beyond doubt that Israel would only succumb to pressure.
Reciprocity is the only logical outcome to Israel s adamant refusal to release Arab prisoners.
The Mandela Institute empathizes with Hizballah s actions. The three Israeli soldiers have become victims of the same policies espoused by their government who insist on keeping Arab prisoners, including Lebanese and Palestinians, as Hostages and Bargain Chips to extract political concessions. At the moment there are 1682 Arab political prisoners in Israeli detention facilities. The numbers are approximate and increasing as Israel continues to arrest more Palestinians. Among the Lebanese prisoners are Sheikh Abdel-Karim Obeid and Sheikh Mustafa Dirani and are held at Sarafand Detention Center.