Aviva Shalit: Gov'ts failed us

Week after head of campaign for release of captive Soldier Gilad Shalit announces headquarters ready to resume activity, soldier's mother urges Prime Minister Netanyahu to 'end sad affair quickly, without hesitation'

Ynet|Published: 11.12.09 , 20:15

Aviva Shalit, mother of captive soldier Gilad Shalit, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to secure her son's release and "end this sad affair quickly, determinedly and without hesitation."

The mother participated in a ceremony opening a recruitment campaign for the "army of Gilad's friends" in Netanya, and said that "at a distance of some two hours from here, a soldier sits in Hamas captivity, with the entire people of Israel seeing his face for the first time about a month ago."

She noted that the Israeli governments have failed in all efforts to bring her son home: "Assuming that there actually were efforts at least part of the time. We, the family, and the many dedicated activists for Gilad say – this is not preordained, we can and must end this sad affair quickly, and without hesitation.

Aviva Shalit (L) (Photo: Ido Erez)

"We must save Gilad before it is too late, before this affair turns into an irremovable stain on Israeli society."

Last week head of the headquarters of the campaign for the release of Gilad Shalit Shimshon Libman said he and his fellow activists were ready to push forward with their struggle.

Libman said on Saturday, "Since his family received the videotape showing Gilad, we have been taking quiet steps so as not to disturb and to give the prime minister space, but we are now ready to return and make our voices heard in public in a way that will not allow the matter to leave the decision makers' agenda."

Libman's comments came several days after east Jerusalem-based newspaper al-Manar reported that the second phase of an exchange deal for Shalit's release was nearing its completion.

The report cited sources close to the German mediator as saying that a date has yet to be set for the completion of the deal, but that work was being done.