Aviva Shalit
Photo: Hagai Aharon
"I miss you, Mom"
Photo: Ofer Amram
Shalit's mother: Pact between State, mothers broken
Aviva Shalit issues last minute plea to Olmert, Barak, Livni to secure her son's release before current government's term ends. 'I want to be hugging Gilad when I go to cast my vote,' she says
"Gilad has been held captive for 948 days. Two wars have taken place during this time; a hudna (truce), rocket fire, changes in the government, in the military and God knows where else. Only one thing stayed the same – my son is still rotting away in a Hamas prison," Aviva Shalit, mother of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, said Wednesday.
The pact between the State and the mothers, she added, has been broken: "The State's commitment has been unshakeable throughout the years. the unspoken covenant between the military and the mothers was carved in stone. We give you our sons and daughters to serve – you return them to us. Not always in one piece, not always sound and too often dead; but they always, always come home.
Hope
Ynet and Reuters
'We have a little more hope tonight, but things are still complicated,' says father of kidnapped soldier with cautious optimism after meeting with French president. Earlier today Sarkozy's envoy to Damascus said he has asked Syria's Assad to pressure Hamas to release Shalit
Shalit was the guest of the Geographical Tours' Desert Queen venture, which is annual jeep expedition exclusively for women. The group launched its 2009 challenge Wednesday and dedicated it to the kidnapped soldier.
Shalit also spoke about the Israeli offensive in Gaza, noting repeated statements by soldiers, saying that for them the fight would not end until Gilad is back home. She also spoke of residents of southern Israel, who said they would be willing to abide the rocket fire if it meant securing her son's release.
Desert Queen – letters for Gilad Shalit (Photo: Ofer Amram)
"The people of Israel have said once and again that they are willing to pay the price for Gilad's release. I have no doubt that the thousands of young people about to join the IDF are following the way the government is handling this case carefully.
"They too would like to see if the country would keep its promise to its soldiers, or would it – heaven forbid – break it. I have no doubt that this would determine their motivation to serve."
Shalit also urged Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and the rest of the cabinet members to keep their promise to retrieve her son. "Please! Do not leave this up to the next government. I believe you have every intention to keep your word. It is your duty, just as it is your privilege.
"This is a last minute plea – before you leave office. We ask you to keep your promise. I want to be hugging Gilad when I go to cast my vote."
