Noam Shalit blasts gov't for lack of progress on freeing MIAs
Shalit's statements came before a protest held near the spot where his son Gilad was kidnapped in an attack by Palestinian militants in 2006.
By Yuval Azoulay Tags: Gilad Shalit Noam ShalitNoam Shalit, father of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, on Wednesday criticized government efforts to secure his son's release saying that the lack of progress "proves the government is not doing enough."
Shalit spoke on Wednesday at a protest held next to a memorial near Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, close to the spot next to the Gaza Strip security fence where Gilad Shalit was captured by Hamas militants in June 2006 in an attack that left two other IDF troops dead and three wounded.
Shalit, who took a central role in organizing the event, told Haaretz this week that Israel's youth must demonstrate to the country's leadership that the lack of progress on returning the three soldiers from captivity disturbs them.
Large groups of teenagers gathered attended the rally, and around 1,100 teenagers as well as kibbutz and moshav residents from across the country signed a petition Wednesday calling for the release of Shalit and IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwassser and Eldad Regev, kidnapped in a cross-border raid by Hezbollah in July 2006.
The protest was organized by the Kibbutz Movement, and was reportedly held in order to encourage youths from agricultural communities such as Kibbutzim and Moshavim to volunteer for enlistment in IDF combat units.
The IDF Southern Command restricted the protest to an area a kilometer from the spot where Gilad Shalit was kidnapped out of fear that Palestinian militants would fire Qassam rockets or mortar shells at the protesters. IDF troops escorted protesters to the site and provided security while combat helicopters patrolled the skies above.
The demonstration took place one day after IDF troops killed six Palestinian militants during a large-scale operation in the southern Gaza Strip.
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Noam Shalit speaking at the protest near Kerem Shalom on Wednesday. (Jini) |
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Mr. Shalit is right to be disgusted at the lack of progress in the release of the captives. It is an insult to the captives and their families that this matter is not item # 1 on the agenda and has been relegated to heaven knows where while all these 'nice speeches and phot ops' about peace are hogging the news.
Was Israe's recent release of 450 jailed Palestinian prisoners supposed to be a good-will gesture to get Shalit out. If so, I guess it didn't work just like the spent words by Israeli officials that effective measures till now are supposedly reducing amount of Kassams fired.
Noam shalit is right. i have 4 children who have served, are serving or will serve in the IDF, and if I was Gilad's parents I would have no faith in the Israeli govt. My son is a quiet and good boy as is Gilad and I can not imagine the despair Gilad's parents are passing. The most important thing appears to be the release of arab prisoners. what is the govt of israel thinking.? untill Gilad is returned I can not understand how the memmbers of the kennest sleep at night. all praise for Gilad's wonderful parents, and God help the govt. this is a disgrace as are all the other prisoner stories Nicky Benari
It must be very hard for Mr. Noam Shalit to watch events plunging to another major military confrontation in Gaza and knowing that such an action could easily turn his son into collateral damage. I applaud the man's actions. He has not been strident or shrill, yet he has strove to keep his son's plight before the nation while the current Israeli government would no doubt welcome the news that his son was no longer with the living, and most certainly doesn't want his name mentioned.