Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., August 29, 2008 Av 28, 5768 | | Israel Time: 13:38 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 22:04 27/08/2008
Miki Goldwasser: Leaders care more about internal politics than Gilad Shalit
By Jack Khoury, Amos Harel and Mijal Grinberg, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hamas, Miki Goldwasser 

The mother of an Israeli soldier abducted and killed by Hezbollah condemned the government Wednesday for being too concerned with the upcoming Kadima leadership race to worry about the fate of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit, held in Gaza for more than two years.

Miki Goldwasser, whose son Ehud and comrade Eldad Regev were killed by Hezbollah during their July 2006 abduction, was speaking at a ceremony at a Gaza-Israel border crossing to mark Shalit's 22nd birthday - his third in captivity.

She called on all mothers in Gaza with sons in Israeli jails to demand that Gaza rulers Hamas secure their release as part of a swap for Shalit.
Advertisement
"A mother does not send her son to die, she sends herself to die for her son," said Goldwasser. "Hamas promised it would free your children. The holiday of Ramadan is approaching. Don't you want your children to celebrate the holiday with you?"

Goldwasser urged the political leadership to unite their resources for one goal - to bring Shalit home.

Edna Hakani, whose son Lieutenant Aviv Hakani was killed in Gaza in 2004, also called for the release of her son's murderers in return for Shalit.

Miki Leibovitch, head of the activist group working to for the release of kidnapped soldiers read what he called "the missing speech" - a speech Gilad could have written.

"I am Gilad Shalit, the son of Noam and Aviva Shalit, don't know if it is day or night, don't know who is leading in the Kadima primaries. I don't know what the foreign minister said about the defense minister, I'm not updated on the probe against the new prime minister and I don't know if Dad has been able to sleep for a minute in the past two years," read Leibovitch.

'Government doing nothing to secure my son's release'

Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, also decried the lack of government action.

"The state of Israel is elegantly moving into a third year of Gilad being held in captivity by Hamas - [only] two hours from Tel Aviv. Sadly, it appears this matter has become internalized by decision makers. I don't see any effort being made by the prime minister and others occupied with the issue, who pledged to deal with this," he told Army Radio.

Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006. He is believed to be still held by Palestinian gunmen in the coastal strip today.

The abducted soldier's father blamed party political infighting for lack of progress in talks with Hamas.

"I don't see an extraordinary desire from any side to conclude this issue. Whoever isn't occupied with party primaries and elections is engaged in quarreling with each other, but not really in order to advance the issue of Gilad."

Some activists prepared an audio tape mimicking the recordings Shalit's captors have released to his family. In the tape, a voice that resembles that of the captive soldier is heard calling on listeners to attend the rally at Sufa. The Shalits told Haaretz that they had not been part of the decision to make the audio recording.

"Not everything can be turned into a gimmick in order to make it into the papers," a family friend told Haaretz.

On Thursday, family members, friends and activists calling for Shalit's release will hold a number of events across the country.

Aviva Shalit, Gilad's mother, will attend a rally at Mitzpe Hila. The protest will begin with a torch procession from the entrance of the Galilee town to the Shalits' home.

At the same time in Tel Aviv, demonstrators will gather outside the defense ministry compound and march to Rabin Square, where a rally will be held. Protesters will be invited to sign a birthday card for Shalit's 22nd birthday. The card will later be sent to Knesset members.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday that Israel views Egypt as a central factor in the return of the kidnapped soldier.

Related articles:
  • Hamas says not interested in renewing Shalit negotiations
  • Hamas threatens to turn Shalit into 'second Ron Arad'
  • Barak: Invasion of Gaza would render Shalit talks impossible
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Three years in captivity
    Aviva Shalit accuses politicians of being too busy with their own affairs to free her son.
    Hezbollah in Venezuela
    Western gov'ts fear the group is establishing cells in the South American country.
      1.   Awaiting Gazan sidesplitting jokes if his mother cries 09:26  |  PETER SM 27/08/08
      2.   The liberation of Gilead Shalit. 15:22  |  Jean Van Daem 27/08/08
      3.   #2, Jean Van Daem... 17:20  |  Silvienne 27/08/08
      4.   Government doing nothing to secure my son`s release 18:44  |  Ralph 27/08/08
      5.   Noam Shalit 19:05  |  Steve Gure 27/08/08
      6.   Political pawn 19:19  |  American 27/08/08
      7.   Closure of borders = death 21:42  |  Billiam 27/08/08
      8.   This is terrible 21:42  |  KUTW 27/08/08
      9.   How is Goldwasser helping things? 21:50  |  McQueen 27/08/08
      10.   What is wrong with the Goldwasser women? 21:53  |  Global Citizen 27/08/08
      11.   sad reality... 22:01  |  ravi 27/08/08
      12.   Alas, too true 22:06  |  Mark Lincoln 27/08/08
      13.   What about the mothers of future victims? 22:30  |  MARK KLEIN, M.D. 27/08/08
      14.   7. ravi: sad reality 22:45  |  KUTW 27/08/08
      15.   # 3 Blame Resolution 242.not Gilad Shalit the vic 00:16  |  Dagma 28/08/08
      16.   OH WHAT A SURPRISE-I can`t believe such a thing! 00:33  |  dav zee 28/08/08
      17.   10: Don`t waste time w/ignoramus troll from far away 00:48  |  5th genereation 28/08/08
      18.   Miki Goldwasser/Gilad Shalit 01:34  |  Paul 28/08/08
      19.   Gilad what ? 01:44  |  David 28/08/08
      20.   Gilad who? 03:13  |  get real 28/08/08
      21.   Get Real 08:08  |  Tex 28/08/08
      22.   #16, Get Real... 18:06  |  Silvienne 28/08/08
      23.   #9, Mark Klein MD-what about..... 18:16  |  Silvienne 28/08/08
     Read & React
    Jonathan Spyer: Fatah never gave up dream of one-state solution
    Send response
    Aluf Benn: Assad working post-Georgia world to his advantage
    Responses: 13
    Obama: You can't protect Israel by talking tough in Washington
    Responses: 22
    Jews visit demolished W. Bank settlement for 1st time since pullout
    Responses: 12


    More Headlines
    12:54 Report: Hezbollah's new missiles have range 'Israel can't fathom'
    02:59 Jerusalem official: Hamas ups ante in Shalit deal
    13:10 Mother says she drowned 4-year-old son because he was 'burden on her'
    11:31 Obama: You don't protect Israel, deter Iran by talking tough in D.C.
    13:09 Forbes features Livni on list of world's most powerful women
    03:38 ANALYSIS / Assad working post-Georgia world to his advantage
    12:47 Rose's mother was under lover's 'guru-like influence,' says best friend
    12:45 Palestinians: Explosive device kills farmer in West Bank
    11:57 Police begin quizzing Olmert on political appointments
    10:39 Hezbollah downs Lebanese chopper, thinking it Israeli
    04:23 VIDEO / Nigerian militants demanding ransom for kidnapped Israeli
    07:07 Voice of Peace DJ: We wanted Arab listeners to feel we were talking to them too
    05:18 Labor official: Reports on attempts to oust Barak are groundless
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    MBA in Israel in English
    APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel
    Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved