
Shalit protest (Archive)
Photo: Ohad Zoigenberg
Around 200 people arrived at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Caesarea Friday evening to call for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
The activists held a Shabbat ceremony on the premises, sang songs, and held up signs with Shalit's picture. One sign said, "Your children want to come home".
Former Minister Ami Ayalon was present at the protest. Yoel Marshak, who heads the Kibbutz Movement task force, said activists wanted decision-makers to put an end to the stalemate in prisoner swap talks for Shalit's release.
"We are appealing to decision-makers in Jerusalem and in Gaza," he said. "I call on the prime minister to join our struggle and not to stand by in arrogance."
Marshak added, "We are holding a Sabbath ceremony in order to remind Netanyahu that on Saturday all families gather together, while the Shalit family cannot do so because Gilad is gone."
The activists gathered about ten meters away from the Netanyahu residence, where Marshak said the family was having dinner.