Marching alone for Gilad Shalit
Gadi Shabtai walks from his home in northern kibbutz to Jerusalem, to mark Passover Seder with kidnapped soldier's family in protest tent. 'I hope this won't become a tradition,' he says
On Saturday morning, Gadi Shabtai left his home in Kibbutz Rosh Hanikra in northern Israel and began walking towards Jerusalem. His goal is to mark the Passover Seder with Shalit's family members in their protest tent outside the Prime Minister's Office.
Shabtai, who arrived in Haifa on Sunday morning, said his march aimed to raise awareness for the condition of the kidnapped soldier after five years in Hamas captivity, and the difficult times his family is experiencing.
He also visited the northern city of Kiryat Motzkin, where he met with the captive's grandfather, Zvi Shalit.
Gadi Shabtai hits the road. 'Seeking to create a wave'
"I seek to create a sort of wave, which may eventually cause (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to make a courageous move and secure Gilad's release," Shabtai explains.
"My friends were in Jerusalem last week and told me the family was in the tent alone. Apart from the people who are regularly there helping, the tent was deserted. That is unthinkable."
Apart from a flag of Israel, Shabtai is also carrying six matzot – five black and one white. "The black ones symbolize the five years Gilad has been in captivity, and sixth one symbolizes next year, when we hope he'll already be home.
"I call on other people in Israel to place six such matzot on their Seder table in honor of Gilad. I only hope this won't become a tradition, and that next year he will already be with us," he says.
On Monday, Shabtai will continue marching on Route 4, from Haifa southward. He is calling on teenagers and residents from the Carmel Coast communities to join him.
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