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Last update - 16:08 27/06/2008 30 mothers hold rally for Gilad Shalit at Erez crossing By Yuval Azoulay and Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Gaza, Gilad Shalit, IDF  A group of some 30 mothers of past or current Israel Defense Forces soldiers gathered at the Erez border crossing between Israel and the Gaza Strip on Friday, calling for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Shalit was abducted two years ago in a cross-border raid by Palestinian militants, and has since remained in captivity in the Gaza Strip. The demonstration dispersed when two mortar shells, fired from the Strip, exploded within Israeli territory in the Sha'ar Hanegev regional council. Advertisement The mothers, carrying yellow ribbons, embarked in a procession from Kidron toward the Erez crossing where they staged a demonstration. One of the mothers, a resident of Kidron, said in an interview to Army Radio: "We think that this is a window of opportunity and we must take advantage of it. We came here because it was the closest spot to Gilad. Gilad is here behind [the barrier]. We could all find ourselves in the same situation his mother and father are currently in, that's why we're here." One of the architects of the event, Israela Shidalov, whose son finished his army service three months ago after having fought in the Second Lebanon War in 2006, said that the mothers would hold weekly demonstrations at the border crossing and nearby intersections. Their aim, she said, is to raise public awareness to the issue of captive soldiers. "We will continue to demonstrate until Gilad comes back. Our slogan is 'let the sun shine on Gilad' and the yellow ribbons symbolize the sun and the light that we want to wash over Gilad," Shidalov added. Shidalov went on to say that she and her friends spoke about the issue of the missing and captive soldiers and decided that they must do something about it. "I was sitting with my friend Maddie Cohen, and we were drinking coffee when we heard a statement that made us angry in regard to the captive soldiers. At that point we decided to take action. We called our friends and started to develop the idea. I spread by word of mouth until several dozen mothers had enlisted to the cause. For each one of us, Gilad is a son," she said. "We won't scream or yell. We will stand quietly by Gilad," she concluded. Related articles: Gaza mortar shells hit Israel despite truce; crossings stay shut Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter Bookmark to del.icio.us   Haniyeh's plea Hamas leader in Gaza says rocket fire must stop for sake of Palestinians. Softening position Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit.   1.   My heart feels for them but is it good for Israel? 17:42  |  Mark B. 27/06/08   2.   What about the other two 20:31  |  joe rechtman 27/06/08   3.   #2 Joe 07:27  |  Mae White 28/06/08   4.   A decision that might cost hundreds of victims. 09:15  |  Jean Van Daem 28/06/08   5.   Awareness is good 12:00  |  Akiva P 28/06/08   6.   These mothers should agitate for the release of women&children in 15:03  |  lakshmi 28/06/08

Read & React Iran military chief says Israel can't stop nuclear program Responses: 280 Top Hamas official: We'll stop anyone who breaks Gaza truce Responses: 245 Shin Bet agrees to free prisoners 'with blood on their hands' for Shalit Responses: 136 'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book Responses: 273 Amos Shocken: Citizenship law makes Israel an apartheid state Responses: 277 Rosner's Domain Can Israel legaly attack Iran with nuclear weapons? Is Time's Joe Klein being honest when he criticizes Joe Lieberman? "The war in Iraq was inevitable" (WTR) Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Do Jews have special responsibility over Darfur? (WTR) More Headlines 08:08 Cabinet set to vote on Hezbollah prisoner swap 07:38 ANALYSIS / Five myths about prisoner swaps 08:18 Palestinians: IDF troops kill unarmed youth in West Bank 07:28 Report: U.S. escalating covert operations against Iran 08:22 More than week into cease-fire, Israel to reopen Gaza crossings 07:14 Bereaved father: Who will protect my sons once terrorists are released? 07:12 Sarkozy's visit / The real fruit is economic 07:35 Peer shocks Safina to slide into Wimbledon fourth round 07:16 Tie a yellow ribbon: Israeli mothers hold protest calling for Gilad Shalit's release 07:18 Ex-POW: Don't declare troops dead, as I was 07:59 German prof.: Israeli athletes willfully sacrificed themselves in Munich massacre 07:32 Ex-Balad MK Bishara may lose pension if new law passes 07:29 MKs prepare for bills making it harder to cede parts of Jerusalem Previous Editions Select Day 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun

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