Miki Goldwasser
צילום: צפריר אביוב
Goldwasser: Why are we bailing out Gaza?
Miki Goldwasser slams government inaction towards freeing Gilad Shalit, calls on ministers 'to devote just a bit of the energy you put into your battles over cabinet seats to the fight for Shalit.' Speaking to teenagers at rally, bereaved mother also demands to know why Israeli shekels are saving Gaza's banks
After her son Ehud's body was returned to Israel as part of the exchange deal with Hizbullah, Miki Goldwasser vowed she was now a soldier for the Shalit family, pledging she would not rest until Gilad too came home.
In a speech before 1,500 teenagers from the 'Young Maccabi' movement in the Golan Heights on Wednesday, she continued to live up to her promise. Hammering the government for busying itself with coalition negotiations rather than securing the kidnapped soldier's freedom, Goldwasser called on Israel's ministers to "devote just a bit of the energy you put into your battles over cabinet seats to the fight for Shalit."
The rally, organized by the youth movement in Shalit's honor, was held at the Armor Corps monument, to which Shalit belonged.
"Gilad's captivity should be our top national priority, as not bringing him home will have a disastrous impact on Israel – however its leaders are too busy with their personal agendas. Devote just a bit of the energy you put into your battles over cabinet seats to the fight for Shalit. If you don't free Gilad, perhaps your preoccupation with your seats will have been for nothing.
"Can anyone explain to me why millions of shekels are being transferred to the Gaza Strip to save Gazan banks? I didn't see the US government rushing to save its banks from collapse, but here we are rushing to save Gaza's banking system. Those Israeli shekels only buy Hamas more and more weapons, and that is far more destructive than the prisoners that will be exchanged for Gilad."
Goldwasser said she feared Shalit would share the same fate as MIA navigator Ron Arad.
"What's the point in waiting. They negotiated and discussed numbers when it was still possible to save Ron Arad. Do we want to make that same mistake against. Bringing Gilad back, by any means, will be a national victory, a source of pride, elation and strength, and the understanding that we the people have the power to influence. A power our leaders must understand should be taken into consideration in how they conduct themselves."
Young Maccabi Secretary-General, Roee Tshuva, told Ynet: "This is the third year that we've dedicated our gathering to the captives. We are here to strengthen our alumni, who are serving in the army, and the Shalit family. We strengthen the hands of our leaders in these times. The country is divided about many things, but we are not divided about the dream to bring Gilad home, and we must do more for him."
