Protestors urge Bibi to secure Shalit's release

For first time since new government took office, protestors demonstrate outside Prime Minister's Residence, call on Bibi to secure abducted soldier's release; 'We feel deep sense of sadness, great shame, and anger,' one protestor says

Efrat Weiss|Published: 05.22.09 , 14:07

For the first time since the formation of the Netanyahu-led government, a protest on behalf of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was held Friday outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem.

Roughly 30 demonstrators urged the prime minister, who has not yet moved into his official residence, to act immediately in an effort to secure Shalit's release.

Fighting the indifference (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)

"I'm not telling my government what to do and whether to release terrorists or not, but I don't want my government to be indifferent," Jerusalem resident Nechama told Ynet. "A person has been in captivity for such a long time and nothing is done to bring him back."

The concerned resident arrived at the protest with her husband and two children, noting that "I want to educate my kids to be aware and caring. They read psalms for Gilad Shalit's wellbeing and release every evening. I don't explain everything to them, but they know the overall story."

'We don't know where he is'

The demonstrators carried signs reading "Gilad is screaming for help yet the Israeli government ignores it" and "Don't abandon him," among other messages. Residents who passed through the area in their cars honked their horns in solidarity with the rally.

Hadar Miller of the civil action committee on behalf of Shalit said that "now, after the government had been in place for two months, we demand that it take action."

Another protestor, Orna Shimoni, spoke of a "deep sense of sadness, great shame, and also anger."

"A soldier has been in captivity for nearly three years. We don't know where he is, what his condition is, and nobody visited him," she said. "We also don't know what is being done for Gilad's sake. Our goal is to ensure that nobody sleeps well at night as long as Gilad is in captivity."