Desktop protest
Two sisters from central Israel decide time has come to do more for Gilad Shalit's release, launch new initiative of manning protest desk outside Prime Minister Olmert's home
Ruth and Yael Barkai have recently launched a new initiative on behalf of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit: The two have begun manning a "protest desk" of sorts, right across from Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Jerusalem home.
The desk, surrounded by signs reading "Gilad Shalit is alive!", stickers and mountains of pamphlets, also sports a "captivity meter" showing the number of days passed since Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas militants and taken to the Gaza Strip.
The two have been able to rally a great deal of support for their initiative, and starting Monday volunteers from all across Israel will be manning the protest desk between 7 am and 10 pm, each for two-hour shifts. The Barkai sisters hope the initiative will last until Shalit is released.
"Anyone wishing to take part can just sign up and come over. I hope our volunteers can each give us four hours a month," Ruth Barkai told Ynet. "We hope this initiative resonates with the public and that the public's action will eventually resonate with the powers that be," added Yael Barkai.
'We need public support.' Manning the desk (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
"We sincerely feel we've released enough balloons into the air. It's time to do something real," added Ruth. "This isn’t about whether or not prisoners with blood on their hands should be released. This is about getting this whole ordeal over with," said Yael.
"Gilad is rotting away in a cell somewhere and the price for his release just keeps going up. We want him to be released now, regardless of the price."
The sisters first introduced the idea during a rally marking Shalit's third birthday in captivity, which was held several weeks ago. "Dozens of people signed up immediately," said Yael. The sisters then sought the Shalit family's blessing for the project. "We keep in touch and work with their own headquarters at Mitzpe Hila; they sent us the majority of informational packets.
"For this to work, really work, we need people to sign up. The more people do that, the more people show up, the more doable it would be," she added.
"What we want is for the prime minister, regardless of who it is, to see us here, every hour of everyday. I hope we can stay here until Gilad is released, but that depends on the public's response."
To sign up for a the project contact yaelveruthi@gmail.com
Gilad Shalit has been held by Hamas for 812 days.
