Shalit campaign: Activists want struggle, family reels in
Activists in campaign headquarters for captured soldier at loss in light of standstill in talks. As soldier's family trying to stay out of media, some activists demanding that campaign actually be stepped up. Noam Shalit: If we thought there was need for return to public campaign, we would already be doing it
The dispute between Israel and Hamas and the mutual accusations between the two regarding who is responsible for the deadlock in prisoner swap negotiations have aroused differences of opinion and misgivings among those active in campaigning for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's release.
The soldier's family believes that now is not the time to return to the campaign front, whereas campaign activists are demanding that the public campaign be resumed now.
The Shalit family does not currently sense an erosion in the public's position regarding stiffening positions with Hamas. However, Ynet's War and Peace Index poll indicated that a solid majority of 53% of the Jewish public supports the government's position regarding talks with Hamas.
The captured soldier's father still hopes Israel has not come up against a dead end in talks: "These are inaccurate reports. As was published in the past, the negotiations are essentially over. There is a proposal from the mediator to which the two sides must respond. He concluded his consultation to the two sides and is waiting for responses."
According to Shalit, he is slated to meet later in the week with the prime minister's chief negotiator in the talks Hagai Hadas to receive an update as to developments in the arena.
The Shalit campaign headquarters were not quick to fall in line with the family's position. Some of them believe that the recent media silence is fundamentally wrong. "The situation is very complex," said the campaign chairman Shimshon Liebman. "The activists are exceptionally pressuring to return to the campaign and activism. We are torn. But out of this perspective of the broader, overall picture, we are putting the brakes on them at this stage."
According to Liebman, "It seems to us like the negotiations are at such a point that it is inadvisable to reach out again to the public. Every move like this has significance, both for the public and for the other side. Our big concern throughout is that this work plan is incorrect."
Liebman added that some of the uncertainty among the activists stems from the fact that reports on the subject – both in terms of Israel's stance on the issue and in terms of Hamas' demands – are not decisive.
"We hear these things, but we cannot say unequivocally what is correct and what is not. We are very tense, and are always trying to think about what is correct, what is responsible to do, and what is dangerous. Whoever tried to accuse of being irresponsible needs to look at our actions during this period," he said.
