Noam Shalit urges Gazans to pressure leaders
During protest rally in Rishon Lezion, captive soldier's father says, 'Thousands of Palestinian prisoners can be home for Ramadan'; calls on Netanyahu to stop 'abusing' his son
Noam Shalit, the father of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "stop abusing" his son.
During a rally in Rishon Lezion on Saturday, Shalit said, "A captive IDF soldier is not a piece of real estate whose price is determined according to supply and demand."
Addressing Netanyahu, the father said, "Don't repeat the foolish words of your predecessor (Ehud Olmert), who said it would not be terrible if the captive remains (in Gaza) a little while longer.
"Don't ignore the voice and will of the people," Noam Shalit told the rally.
Referring to the recent protest march from the Shalit family home in Mitzpe Hila to Jerusalem, the captive's father said, "The people of Israel have spoken with their feet, in the heavy summer heat. We will not retreat from the camp we set up outside your home (PM's official residence in Jerusalem) until our son Gilad returns home.
"Thousands of people continue to visit our (protest tent). They all have the same demand - that you end this sad affair and see to it that Gilad is released immediately," Noam Shalit said, adding, "The time to make a decision has come. A leader is evaluated by his ability to make difficult and complex decisions."
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists during a cross-border raid on an IDF base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
Noam Shalit also appealed to the Palestinians, saying if a prisoner exchange agreement is reached soon "hundreds of Palestinian prisoners will be able to celebrate the holy holiday (Ramadan) at home.
"Don't miss the opportunity for a deal. Press your leaders, because it is time they rise above political considerations and address the interests of the citizens," he said.
Colonel (res.) Amnon Sharon, who was captured by Syria in the Yom Kippur War, also spoke at the rally. "The Syrians broke me down both physically and spiritually. They said my country does not want me. I didn’t believe them. I knew the army and government were doing everything to bring me back," he said.
"As a commander in the Armored Corps I knew that you don’t abandon soldiers. You don’t abandon the wounded. You don't abandon captives."
