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Aviva Shalit
Photo: Hagai Aharon
ATVs bore Shalit banners
Photo: Eran Shlomo, naZZima.com

Aviva Shalit: Government isn't pressuring Hamas

In letter read during solidarity drive for captive soldier; his mother laments behavior of government reminiscent of handling of Ron Arad tragedy

Dozens of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) carrying banners with the image kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit took part in a solidarity drive around communities in the vicinity of the Gaza Strip on Saturday.

 

Over 60 ATVs took part, leaving from the Ram Junction in the early morning hours. The convoy then headed to Kibbutz Yad Mordechai for a demonstration rally, where a letter written by Shalit's mother, Aviva, was read aloud.

 

In the letter Aviva lamented the fact that her son has been in Palestinian captivity for 860 days now, and that the classmates he was drafted with have by now completed their mandatory three-year service. Several of those who took part in the rally belonged to Shalit's company.


 

The ATVs on Saturday (Photo: Eran Shlomo – naZZima.com)

 

"His friends will begin their studies at the university with the commencement of the coming academic year, and some of them will head out to see the world in their post-army trips. Our Gilad was also supposed to go on with his life like every one of his friends who is not in captivity. But he is in complete isolation, with no way to contact the world outside.

 

"The conduct of this country's leaders fearfully reminds of the one that ultimately led to the tragedy of Ron

Arad and his family. Our government does not have the presence of mind to use the means of pressure at its disposal against Hamas and the Gaza Strip to bring about the release of my son, who is everyone's son."

 

Shalit reiterated the family's position, which sees Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as solely responsible for securing Gilad's freedom. "The responsibility for bringing Gilad home is still on the sitting prime minister. Ehud Olmert was prime minister the day Gilad was kidnapped, the day we and Gilad lost our anonymity. Olmert was his commander in chief, and therefore he should be the one to complete the mission and bring him home."

 


פרסום ראשון: 11.02.08, 00:09
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