Shalit protesters carry casket in Jerusalem
Demonstrators say coffin symbolizes government's burial of Israeli ethos that soldier is not abandoned in enemy territory
Dozens of members of "Gilad Shalit's army of friends" marched Sunday morning from Binyanei Ha'uma in Jerusalem to the Prime Minister's Office, where they protested outside the weekly cabinet meeting, and called for the captive soldier's release.
The marchers carried with them a symbolic casket and said that by its inaction, the government is burying the ethos that a soldier is not left behind in enemy territory.
Varda Goldblatt, one of the march's organizers, said the protesters wished to demonstrate ahead of Independence Day and demand Shalit's independence.
"After almost four-and-a-half years in captivity, it is unfathomable that two governments were not able to bring him home. This is proof of inadequacy for our State, which pretends to be strong. For almost four years the Shalit family, which is also a bereaved family, has been held hostage along with their son. They are living a nightmare, and the entire country is with them," she said.
Demonstrators with casket (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Of the controversial act of carrying a casket in the rally, Goldblatt said, "The casket symbolizes the government's burial of the Israeli ethos that you don't abandon a soldier on enemy territory. We are not making light of what the casket symbolizes, on the eve of Memorial Day, but we express hopes that it does not turn into a real casket, with a real fallen soldier.
"We must remember that the prime minister is a bereaved brother, and Gilad Shalit's father is also a bereaved brother. We pray and demand that a situation in which he becomes a bereaved father is prevented."
The demonstrators met with Interior Minister Eli Yishai outside the Prime Minister's Office. "He once again spoke of the mutual guarantees. That there is no country in the world that would do what Israel does for its soldiers, but in the meantime, we haven't seen them do anything. These are just words," Goldblatt said.
Meanwhile, London-based al-Hayat newspaper reported that the German mediator involved in efforts towards a prisoner exchange deal for the soldier's release visited the region two weeks ago, but made no progress. According to the report, the mediator met with Israeli officials, and held two meetings with Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip. He also reportedly met with Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,393 days ago
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
