'Forgive us, we have failed'

"I want to ask Gilad for his forgiveness," said Noam Shalit on Monday. "I want to ask for his forgiveness for the fact that despite all of our efforts, we have failed to bring him home."

The father of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit spoke at a protest Rosh Hashana dinner held outside Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Jerusalem home. The dinner was organized by the Headquarters of the Public's Campaign for the Hostages' Release, which has focused its recent efforts on bringing about the Hamas held soldier's release.

Shalit, accompanied by his son Yoel, said that he held Olmert responsible for Gilad's fate, adding that he was sorry to see how the government treats a captive soldier as nothing more than a commodity.

He ended his brief speech by saying he hopes Gilad will be released before Olmert's premiership comes to its end.

Holds Olmert responsible. Noam Shalit (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

The event's captains told Ynet that thousands of people stopped by the dinner table throughout the evening, some taking part in the dinner itself and some stopping by for a while, to show their support.

Shai Shankman, one of the campaign's foremen, said that those dedicated to the cause have pledged not to celebrate any of the Jewish holidays with their families, until IDF captives, Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were returned to Israel.

"Udi and Eldad were returned to us in coffins, unfortunately. We are now waiting for the release of the third, living soldier, Gilad Shalit," he said.

The holiday dinner itself was meant to symbolize the undoubtedly harsh conditions in which Gilad Shalit is being held: Those arriving at the venue were met by bare wooden tables, sporting little more than water, flatbread and olives.

Organizers also gave out 824 apples, symbolizing the number of days Shalit has been held in Gaza.