Noam Shalit to tell UN panel: Gilad's abduction a war crime

Noam Shalit will ask a United Nations committee on Monday to declare the abduction of his son, Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, by Hamas in 2006 a war crime.

Shalit will tell the committee, headed by Richard Goldstone in Geneva, that the abduction of his son violates the Geneva Convention and call for his immediate release by his captors.

In a departure from his policy up to now, the father of the abducted soldier will name Hamas political bureau leader Khaled Meshal as personally responsible for his son's abduction.

Although Shalit is not interested in legally prosecuting Meshal, he believes declaring the Damascus-based leader responsible for the violation of humanitarian laws might expedite his son's release.

The UN committee, headed by former South African judge Goldstone, was set up to investigate human rights violations during Operation Cast Lead.

Shalit's adviser, attorney Nick Kaufman, who specializes in international law, told Haaretz that he will testify because of the relationship between Gilad Shalit's abduction and the more recent violence between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel does not recognize the committee and so Shalit's testimony will be considered a private and personal matter, Kaufman said.

Residents of the Qassam-stricken town of Sderot, which has sustained repeated attacks by Gazan militants for years, will also testify before the committee on an unofficial basis.

On Wednesday Noam Shalit was the guest of honor at a special meeting held at Rome's municipal palace. Shalit also met with Rome's mayor, Gianni Alemanno, and Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.

At the same time Hezi Meshita, who headed the Shalit family-run campaign for the release of Gilad Shalit, announced he would be stepping down. Meshita said he has to tend to his private business but he would still devote much of his time to the cause. "The previous government missed out on some opportunities to bring Gilad Shalit home," Meshita said.