Gilad Shalit
Reproduction photo
Shalit's comrades being discharged
Kidnapped soldier's comrades plan to march to IDF headquarters for meeting with defense minister immediately after returning gear; former squadron commander: Everything should be done to retrieve him, even release of terrorists
Kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit's
comrades are due to be discharged from regular army service on Tuesday, however instead of celebrating their first day as citizens they have planned to march to the Kirya Base in Tel Aviv in order to meet with Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
Afterwards they plan to arrive at Rabin Square, where signs displaying their captive friend have been hung, in order to hold a small ceremony.
Shocher: Terrorists' release not concession. (Photo: Eli Elgarat)
Shalit's comrades have been fighting for his release from captivity for two years, while continuing their combative army service in the Gaza Strip and Israel's other fronts. But on Tuesday, for the first time, they plan to say everything that has been weighing so heavily on their hearts.
Lieutenant Dagan Shocher, former commander of Shalit's squadron, plans to join the soldiers on their march. "We feel everything possible must be done in order to free Shalit," he said. "I need to know, as a commander, that my soldiers know I will go to the ends of the earth for them, in order to have them freed from captivity. Any soldier that is unsure of this cannot go to battle."
Referring to the protest, Shocher said, "Our aim is clear. Rather than go home we want to speak and be heard, to show everyone that Gilad Shalit is important to us and that everything must be done to release him. As a commander, I feel we sent him to protect the country, and it is our duty to retrieve him."
In the conversation with the defense minister the soldiers plan to ask for more details about the efforts made by the State to release their friend. "Even when terrorists are released for him, it does not constitute concession," Shocher said. "The terror organizations will repeatedly attempt to abduct soldiers all the time, and whoever thinks prisoners should not be released for Gilad's sake is wrong."
