Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., June 26, 2008 Sivan 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 00:24 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 22:52 24/06/2008 VIDEO: Two years after his kidnap, U.S. kids read Gilad Shalit's tale of co-existence By Aliyana Traison, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gilad Shalit, Israel  Students from a New York City elementary school have marked two years since the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by reading aloud a book he wrote at their age, in a three-minute video uploaded Tuesday onto YouTube. Five fifth-graders from the Bronx public school were chosen to read When the Shark and the Fish First Met, a short story unearthed by Shalit's former teacher and published earlier this year. Advertisement The video shows images of the students reading, interspersed with pictures from the book, drawn by a team of Israeli illustrators. Shalit's story, which he wrote at age 11, tells of a shark and fish who become friends and stay playmates even as their parents pressure them to remain enemies. In the end, the characters' friendship leads to peace between their species. The book has already been translated into numerous languages, including Arabic and English. The video project was the initiative of the Israeli Consulate in New York, jointly organized by David Saranga, Consul for Media and Public Affairs, and Yoram Morad, Israel's Cultural Attache to the U.S. The purpose of the project, said Saranga, is to "raise awareness of this humanitarian issue in the United States and around the world. A multiethnic selection of students reading this story of peace and reconciliation sends a powerful message that cannot be ignored." Leslie Ramirez, an 11-year-old who participated in the reading, said she was inspired both by how young Shalit was when he wrote the book as well as by the story's message of peace. "Gilad was a boy our age when he wrote this story; if only we could write something so significant at this age. Today, no one knows where he is and he probably misses his parents," Ramirez said. "If the shark and fish can make peace, why can't people?" The Bronx school selected for the project has received acclaim for its efforts to promote peace and tolerance and to weed out violence through cultural projects. Shalit was abducted by militants from the Gaza Strip in a cross-border raid on June 25, 2006. His parents have received some sign of life from him, but details of the negotiations for his release have been mostly hush. The Shalit family this week petitioned the High Court of Justice to order the government not to continue implementing a cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza, which went into effect on Thursday, unless the Gaza captors agree to release their son. Egypt, meanwhile, has assured Israel that the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt will remain closed until a deal securing Shalit's release is reached. The Israeli Consulate has joined Facebook in calling on users of the social network to change their profile pictures to an image of Shalit on Wednesday to commemorate the two years since his abduction. Related articles: Egypt: Gaza crossing will remain shut until Shalit deal reached Short story penned by Gilad Shalit at age 11 to be published Bookmark to del.icio.us   Bridging the gap A flashy addition to Jerusalem's entrance merges the old and the new. Two years later Captive soldiers' families lash out during ceremony marking Shalit's kidnapping.   1.   pure PR! 19:46  |  bashar 24/06/08   2.   Dearest Bashar 22:24  |  Jojo 24/06/08   3.   Bashar 22:34  |  Jake 24/06/08   4.   Buy a clue Bashar, Shalit was not in Gaza 22:55  |  Jacob Blues 24/06/08   5.   bashar #1 get yourself educated ! 22:58  |  Michael 24/06/08   6.   Looks like the fish got eaten in the end! 23:23  |  Yoel 24/06/08   7.   bashar bashar 23:30  |  ANDY 24/06/08   8.   Enough 00:44  |  Jack 25/06/08   9.   Making sure the social welfare checks keep coming 00:59  |  Labhras 25/06/08   10.   So the thug captured by Hammas... 02:29  |  H50 25/06/08   11.   Cheap Zionist propaganda 04:03  |  Ismail 25/06/08   12.   The heart of a child:It is no wonder at all that this is what we 05:14  |  must "convert" to 25/06/08   13.   Enough - chronology check 11:07  |  Elihu 25/06/08   14.   1Bashar,spot on! Shalit is an armed soldier who was captured,not 13:50  |  lakshmi 25/06/08   15.   #1 Bashar 13:58  |  MR 25/06/08   16.   To all of you bashing Bashar 14:12  |  Said 25/06/08   17.   #16, Said...how right you are... 23:41  |  Silvienne 25/06/08   18.   Zionists hate it when Bashar tells the truth! 23:43  |  Silvienne 25/06/08

Read & React Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce Responses: 189 Rosner's Guest: Israel was wrong on Hezbollah war, wrong on Gaza restraint Responses: 58 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two Responses: 81 Olmert: Top priority is to bring home seized troops Responses: 43 Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us Responses: 62 Rosner's Domain "Israel's Supreme Court illegitimately extending its sway over military decisions" 1 out of 5 Israelis wants to leave the country (WTR) Religion is not very important to American Jews Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? More Headlines 18:11 'Israel's top priority is to bring home seized troops' 00:12 Olmert to opposition: You oppose the gov't because you're against peace 22:43 Ron Arad's brother: Gilad Shalit didn't enlist to be a martyr 23:26 Treasury backtracks on tax cuts due to 'political instability' 23:42 Jerusalem welcomes flashy new addition to city of ancient relics 16:56 Tajikistan's Jews despair as only synagogue razed 20:40 Ex-Knesset speaker: Time for two-state solution running out 15:22 Top Saudi official: Ball in Israel's court if it wants peace with us 14:27 Jihad threatens to continue rocket attacks, despite truce 20:22 Israeli assaulted by mob after driving into Ramallah by accident 18:39 Experts checking if Vilnius building constructed on Jewish cemetery 21:14 Ex-Likud MK Omri Sharon completes prison sentence 14:24 'Attack on Paris Jewish teen may be linked to ongoing gang feud' Previous Editions Select Day 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. 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

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