Ron Arad's brother: Gilad Shalit didn't enlist to be a martyr - Haaretz

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Mon., June 30, 2008 Sivan 27, 5768

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		High school students participating in the assembly in Mitzpe Hila marking two years since the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. (Yaron Kaminsky)

Last update - 22:43 25/06/2008

Ron Arad's brother: Gilad Shalit didn't enlist to be a martyr

By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: gilad shalit, hamas

Chen Arad, brother of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad, attacked Israel's leadership on Wednesday at an assembly marking two years since the abduction of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

"Ron didn't enlist in the air force to be a gladiator, and Gilad didn't enlist in the armored corps brigade to be a martyr," said Arad. He added, "It would seem that our leaders don't have a God. They are acting like the last of the Roman Caesars."

Arad read part of his brother's final letter to his family, in which he asked that they work to achieve his release.

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"On my way here, I fantasized about how if Ron returned, he would be standing here telling the families that they have someone to count on to bring the soldiers home," said Arad at the ceremony held at Mitzpe Hila, which is home to the Shalit family.

Hundreds of people attended the assembly, among them the families of captive IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, Ron Arad's daughter, Yuval, and the family of IDF soldier Adi Avitan whose body was returned to Israel in 2004 as part of a prisoner exchange with Hezbollah.

Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, read the speech that his wife, Aviva, who was not feeling well, was meant to give, "Who would have believed that 731 days have passed, and that the prime minister who took the full responsibility of Gilad's return upon himself has not succeeded in reaching an agreement to bring him home. Who would have believed that 731 days have passed and Gilad still has not seen the light of day or the light at the end of the tunnel," the statement read.

Shalit's mother called on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "to make a decision - as difficult as it may be - to bring Gilad home. Gilad was sent on a mission by you, and was kidnapped after he went to execute it without hesitation or deliberation. Gilad has paid and is paying a heavy price."

Aviva Shalit's statement also urged Israeli mothers to wake up and tell the prime minister in voices loud and clear that they have had enough talk after two years, and that he should fulfill his commitment to Israel's soldiers.

At the end of the ceremony, Noam Shalit asked audience members to close their eyes and remain silent for 30 seconds. He asked them to imagine what Gilad is experiencing on his 731st day in captivity.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi on Wednesday said, "As the IDF commanding officer, I want to stress that the return of abducted soldiers is our moral duty. I am hopeful that the day we get to see them is near."

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1.	we will have more casualties if...	22:05	\|	judith	25/06/08

2.	Small-minded, ego-sensitive Olmert	22:30	\|	Clickfool	25/06/08

3.	shalid is not a martyr	22:45	\|	rm	25/06/08

4.	Weak society	00:22	\|	Dan	26/06/08

5.	#1 Judith. Palstinians have one Israeli, IDF have 10.000 pals!!	00:27	\|	John	26/06/08

6.	Dan # 4 and his so called weak society	00:46	\|	Bill H.	26/06/08

7.	Israeli youth should refuse to serve in racist army of occupation	00:58	\|	Chanalau, Tova	26/06/08

8.	Dan - Ours is no weak society	02:10	\|	Free Gilad Shalit	26/06/08

9.	yea sure bill	02:30	\|	Dan	26/06/08

10.	Gilad I smell	02:33	\|	Dan	26/06/08

11.	#5 John - Just like your namesake	02:59	\|	* BEN JABO	26/06/08

12.	too bad	03:04	\|	wibism	26/06/08

13.	#6, BILL H, a hypocrite and knows it	03:20	\|	VIPER	26/06/08

14.	#8, FREE GILAD SHALIT, you just openly lied	03:26	\|	VIPER	26/06/08

15.	Ben Jabo`s tush	04:03	\|	wibism	26/06/08

16.	To Judith not Ture at all.	04:33	\|	gus	26/06/08

17.	Your right	04:47	\|	Lynn	26/06/08

18.	Israeli govt only cares about expanding itself	06:35	\|	noor	26/06/08

19.	Dear John #5	10:36	\|	Eli	26/06/08

20.	#15 WIBISM - MY TUSH	15:49	\|	* BEN JABO	26/06/08

21.	#18 noor trying seeing the light	15:52	\|	* BEN JABO	26/06/08

22.	whatever happened to "We will not deal w/ terrorists?	16:27	\|	petra	26/06/08

23.	Viper $14	19:19	\|	Free Gilad Shalit	26/06/08

24.	Viper # 6	19:37	\|	Bill H.	26/06/08

25.	Dan again # 5	19:44	\|	Bill H.	26/06/08

26.	eli 19	22:39	\|	potobac	26/06/08

27.	dan #4	00:29	\|	vs	27/06/08

28.	Vipers reply to Free Gilad Shalit	00:31	\|	Bill H.	27/06/08

29.	#24, BILL H, shows hypocricy again and again	02:08	\|	VIPER	27/06/08

30.	#23, FREE GILAD, SCREAMS PROPAGANDA	02:26	\|	VIPER	27/06/08

31.	#28, BILL H and his "look over there" syndrome	02:28	\|	VIPER	27/06/08

32.	#30 VIPER - ARE YOU CALLING HAMAS LIARS?	03:42	\|	* BEN JABO	27/06/08

33.	To Petra who is the real Terrorist?	10:24	\|	gus	27/06/08

34.	The Screaming VIPER 31	19:25	\|	Bill H.	27/06/08

35.	#33 Gus "X-mosad means nothing"	01:48	\|	* BEN JABO	28/06/08

36.	These soldiers knew the risks!	02:24	\|	DesMnsDave	29/06/08

37.	#35-2 GUS - What happened??	18:34	\|	* BEN JABO	29/06/08

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