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Gilad Shalit

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"Shalit" redirects here. For other people with the surname, see Shalit (surname).
Gilad Shalit
גלעד שליט
File:Gilad Shalit portrait.jpg
Gilad Shalit (image courtesy of the Shalit family)
Born (1986-08-28) 28 August 1986 (age 37)
Nahariya, Israel
Allegiance Israel
Service/branch Israeli Army
Rank First sergeant
UnitArmor Corps
Battles/warsOperation Summer Rains

Gilad Shalit (Hebrew: גלעד שליט, born 28 August 1986) is an Israeli and French national and an IDF soldier who was attacked and abducted[1][2][3][4] from Israel on 25 June 2006 by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid. Shalit was abducted near the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel), and has been held as a hostage[5] at an unknown location in the Gaza Strip by Hamas, and deprived of all International Red Cross medical care and visits, since his abduction. As of October 11, 2011, it was reported that a deal will secure his freedom after more than five years in isolation and captivity, though Shalit has not yet been freed.[6][7]

Hamas has refused requests from the International Committee of the Red Cross to allow the ICRC to visit Shalit. Hamas, with its founding charter which calls for both the annihilation of Israel and for the enforcement of religious rule by strict Islamic law, claims that any such Red Cross humanitarian and medical visit could betray the location where Shalit is being held captive.

Multiple human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's confinement are contrary to international humanitarian law. To date, the only contact between Shalit and the outside world since his capture has been three letters, an audio tape, and a DVD that Israel received in return for releasing 20 female Palestinian convicted prisoners.[8]

Shalit holds dual French and Israeli citizenship,[8] a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved in efforts to release him from his captors.[citation needed]

In exchange for his release, Hamas is demanding the release of 1,000 prisoners – Palestinians serving prison sentences in Israel – as well as all female and underage Palestinians convicted and serving sentences. A major sticking point in negotiations between the sides for the release of Shalit is Hamas' insistence on the release of Marwan Bargouti, currently serving five life sentences in Israel for murder.[9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] The United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which released a report in September 2009, has also called for Shalit to be released.[17] In its May 27, 2011 Deauville Declaration, the G8 demanded the release of Gilad Shalit.[18]

Shalit's capture is often referred to as a kidnapping,[19][20][21][22][23] because the soldier has been granted none of the human rights due to a captured soldier under the Geneva Conventions,[24] that entitles them to receive visits from the Red Cross and to communicate with family members, and a ransom, even if not of a monetary nature, has been demanded for his return.[25]

The Red Cross Director-General Yves Daccord also stated that “The Schalit family have the right under international humanitarian law to be in contact with their son”.[23]

Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that he will revoke benefits and privileges – such as university education – for Palestinian militants in Israeli jails, in response to Hamas’s refusal to let the International Red Cross visit Shalit. He was the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[26][27][28] Shalit, holding a rank of corporal in the IDF's Armor Corps at the time of his abduction, has since been promoted to Staff Sergeant and First sergeant .[29]

Personal life

Shalit was born on 28 August 1986 in Nahariya, Israel, to Noam and Aviva Shalit, along with an older brother and a younger sister, and was raised from the age of two in Mitzpe Hila in the Western Galilee. He graduated with distinction from Manor Kabri High School. Shalit began military service in the Israel Defense Forces in July 2005, and "despite a low medical profile, he preferred to serve in a combat unit, following his older brother, Yoel, into the armored corps."[30] He holds dual Israeli and French citizenship.[31]

Capture

Main article: 2006 Hamas cross-border raid
Gilad Shalit on Hamas poster,
Nablus 7 May 2007

Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, Shalit was captured[1] by Palestinian militants who infiltrated an Israeli army post on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border after crossing through an underground tunnel near the Kerem Shalom border crossing.[32] During the attack, two Palestinian militants[33] and two IDF soldiers were killed and three others wounded, aside from Shalit, who reportedly suffered a broken left hand and a light shoulder wound after his tank was hit with a rocket-propelled grenade.[34]

Shalit's captors issued a statement on Monday, 26 June 2006, offering information on Shalit if Israel agreed to release all female Palestinian prisoners and all Palestinian prisoners under the age of 18, who were held without charges and tried without the right of defense.[35] The statement came from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the Popular Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad, and Hamas), and a previously unknown group calling itself the Army of Islam. On 14 June 2007 Israel Army Radio published a report that said that the army had received a specific warning on 24 June 2006, the day before Shalit was captured, about a planned capture. According to the report, Israeli security forces entered the Gaza Strip on 24 June 2006 and detained two brothers described as Hamas members. The report said that the brothers were transferred to Israel for interrogation, and that the information extracted formed the basis for the specific warning that militants would try to enter Israel through tunnels to capture soldiers stationed near Gaza.[36][37]

Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured by Palestinians since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994.[38] His abduction[39] and the following cross-border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the abduction of the bodies Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006.

Hamas high-ranking commander Abu Jibril Shimali, whom Israel considers responsible for coordinating the abduction of Shalit, was killed during the violent clashes between Hamas and the al-Qaida-affiliated Jund Ansar Allah organization in Gaza in August 2009.[40]

Rescue attempt

Main article: 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict

Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis on 28 June 2006 to search for Shalit. According to David Siegel, a spokesman at the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C., “Israel did everything it could in exhausting all diplomatic options and gave Mahmoud Abbas the opportunity to return the abducted Israeli… This operation can be terminated immediately, conditioned on the release of Gilad Shalit.”[41] On the same day, four Israeli Air Force aircraft flew over Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Latakia, as an IDF spokesperson said that Israel views the Syrian leadership as a sponsor of Hamas.[42] The operation did not succeed in finding Shalit.

On 29 June, the commander of the Israeli Southern Command, Aluf Yoav Galant, confirmed that Shalit was still in Gaza. Israel's Minister of Justice, Haim Ramon, added that Shalit was being held in southern Gaza, specifically. The military correspondent for the Israel Broadcasting Authority said that Shalit was being held captive in Rafah, and that there was indication that he was still alive. However, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Miri Regev said: “we are not convinced he is being held in southern Gaza… [only] that he is being held in Gaza”.[43]

On 1 July, the BBC reported that Shalit had been treated by a Palestinian doctor for a broken hand and a light shoulder wound. Israeli governmental authorities threatened that the “sky will fall” if Shalit is harmed.[44]

On the same day, Shalit's captors issued another demand to the Israelis, demanding that Israel release an additional 1,000 Palestinian prisoners (in addition to all female and young prisoners, as previously demanded) and end Israel's incursions into Gaza.[45] Two days later, the captors issued a 24-hour ultimatum for meeting their demands, threatening unspecified consequences if Israel refused.[46] Hours after the ultimatum was issued, Israel officially rejected the demands, stating that: "there will be no negotiations to release prisoners".[47]

Diplomatic efforts

Free Gilad sidewalk painting

After Shalit's capture, the Papal Nuncio to Israel, Archbishop Antonio Franco, made an unsuccessful attempt to secure Shalit's release via the Catholic Church's Gaza-based parish.[48]

In September 2006, Egyptian mediators received a letter written by Shalit in which he wrote that he was alive and well. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit.[49] In October, Egypt was also reported to be negotiating with Hamas on behalf of Israel for Shalit's release.[50]

On 28 October 2006, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said in a statement that all three parties had agreed to a proposal by Egyptian mediators regarding Shalit's release. The PRC did not provide details, but said that the Egyptian proposal would include the release of Palestinians held by Israel.[51] It was the first time since Shalit's capture that any of the factions indicated that his release might be imminent.

File:Pro-Israel-Demo in Berlin 8.JPG
Poster at a demonstration in Berlin calling for Shalit's release

In November 2006, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal indicated that Shalit was alive and in good health.[52]

On 9 January 2007, Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the captors, asserted that Shalit “has not been harmed at all ... He is being treated in accordance with Islamic values regulating the treatment of prisoners of war.” However, he threatened, “We have managed to keep the soldier in captivity for six months and we have no problem keeping him for years.”[53]

On 17 January 2007, one of the captor groups, the Army of Islam headed by Mumtaz Dormush, claimed that Shalit was held exclusively by Hamas.[54] On 8 March 2007, The Jerusalem Post reported that an agreement had been reached with Hamas over the number of prisoners Israel would release in return for Shalit. Israel and Hamas were still negotiating specific prisoners that Hamas wanted freed in return for Shalit.[55]

On 7 April 2007, it was reported that Shalit's captors had transferred to Israel, through Egyptian mediators, a list of Palestinian prisoners they wanted freed. The list included approximately 1,300 names, some of which were high-ranking Fatah members.[citation needed] On 4 February 2008, it was reported that Hamas had sent Shalit's family a second letter written by him. The handwriting was confirmed to be that of Shalit.[56]

On 25 June 2007, a year after Shalit's capture, the military wing of Hamas, Iz a-Din al-Qassam, released an audio tape in which Shalit is heard sending a message to his family, friends, and the Israeli government and army, and appealing for a prisoner-swap deal to be reached to secure his release. Shalit said that his medical condition was deteriorating, and that he required immediate and lengthy hospitalization.

Gilad's father Noam Shalit met with former United States President Jimmy Carter during Carter's April 2008 visit to Israel. Carter planned to visit Khaled Meshal of Hamas in Damascus later. Noam Shalit said that the fact that Carter is not considered pro-Israel could be beneficial in securing his son's release.[57] On 9 June 2008, it was reported that Hamas sent Shalit's family a third letter. The group had promised to send them a third letter after mediation from Carter. The handwriting was confirmed to be Shalit's.[58]

On 12 August 2008, Hamas said that it was suspending talks on Shalit's release, demanding a complete lifting of the Israeli siege. The decision angered Egypt, a mediator for Shalit's release. Hamas criticized the Egyptians for linking the opening of the Rafah border crossing with Shalit's release, a condition to which Hamas refuses to agree.[59]

On 20 August 2008, in his briefing to the United Nations Security Council, the Under-Secretary-General of the UN appeared to link the decision to release 200 Palestinian prisoners to the case,[60] though the Hamas spokesman saw it as an attempt to strengthen Palestinian internal divisions by releasing only those loyal to the Fatah faction.[61]

On May 11, 2010, The president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev called for Gilad Shalit to be freed "as soon as possible". He made the call while meeting Hamas leaders in Damascus, Syria. "The Russian president urged solving the problem of releasing Israeli citizen Gilad Shalit as soon as possible," spokeswoman Natalya Timakova said. Russia is the only country that has direct dialogue with Hamas. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal reportedly said they would only consider releasing the soldier when Israel resumed talks to free Palestinian prisoners.[62]

PA President Mahmoud Abbas called for the release of Shalit in a press conference with visiting German President Christian Wulff.

Negotiations for release

File:Guilad Schalit - Papiers Français.png
Gilad's French citizenship papers

Shalit's father had blamed the US for blocking talks on his son's release.[63]

Netanyahu responded to a pilgrimage march, called by Shalit's father for his release by saying he is willing to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, but that top Hamas leaders would not be among those released.[64]

In early 2011, Egyptian-moderated negotiations continued between the Israeli government, represented by David Meidan, and Hamas, represented by Ahmed Jabari. Haaretz reported that Meidan proposed a prisoner swap and threatened that if Hamas rejected this proposal, no swap would occur; Hamas responded by warning that an end to negotiations would lead to Shalit's "disappearance." Negotiations were hung up over disagreements between the two parties regarding Israel's unwillingness to release all of the so-called "senior prisoners" into the West Bank—a demand Hamas rejects—and regarding the particulars of releasing prisoners who were leaders of Hamas and other organizations.[65]

Release deal reached

Main article: Gilad Shalit prisoner swap deal

On October 11, 2011 the Al Arabiya network first reported that Israel and Hamas reached an agreement on Gilad Shalit. Netanyahu convened a special Cabinet meeting to approve the layout of the Shalit deal. Shalit's release negotiations include the release of 1,027 Hamas and Palestinian prisoners by Israel.[66] The prisoners to be swapped for Shalit include terrorists with "blood on their hands."[67] Sixty percent of previously released terrorists have returned to terrorism.[68]

Regarding the current agreement, Gerald Steinberg, political-science professor at Bar Ilan University and president of NGO Monitor, was quoted as saying that the goal of Israel allowing the Egyptians to take an active part "is to help stabilize [Cairo], so they play a constructive role in the region. It's to show to other countries" as well, that Egypt is a "counterweight" to Turkey, with Israel showing preference to Egypt.[69]

Israeli society perceptions and activities

Shalit's parents

The Israeli public is divided regarding the issue of negotiating the release of Shalit in exchange for a large number of Palestinians prisoners jailed in Israel. There are two opposing camps.

One camp supports the release of Shalit on Hamas's conditions. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 69 percent of Israelis favour this deal, which would include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the deportation of some of them outside the territory of the Palestinian National Authority[70] or restricting them to Gaza.

A second camp says that Shalit should be released, but not on Hamas's conditions. They argue that the correct approach is to protect Israelis if the prisoners are released. According to the Dahaf Polling Institute, 22 percent of Israelis support are in this camp.[70]

Daniel Bar-Tal, a professor of political psychology at Tel Aviv University, says

"Here we see the basic dilemmas between the individual and the collective, and we see victim pitted against victim. Gilad Shalit is a victim who was 'violently' kidnapped, in a way that Israelis do not consider to be a normative means of struggle. Therefore, one side says, he should be returned at any price. But the families of those killed in terrorist attacks and the people who were wounded in those attacks are victims, too, and they say that no price should be paid to the murderers. And it is truly a dilemma, because no side is right, and no side is wrong."[70]

Others believe that the disagreement among Israelis represents rifts and changes within Israeli society. Attorney Dalia Gavriely-Nur, a lecturer at Bar-Ilan University, says that the camp opposing the prisoners deal is holding onto a view of collectivist society, in which the individual was expected to sacrifice himself for the good of society; the camp supporting the prisoner release is expressing, however, a high value on the sanctity of life, that symbolizes a shift to a more privatized society.[70]

Gilad is still alive; February 2009

Noam Shalit, father of Gilad Shalit, urged the UN to take all possible measures to implement the findings of the Goldstone report. The Goldstone report calls for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit and, while Shalit is in captivity, for access to him by the International Committee of the Red Cross.[71]

On the evening of Shalit's 23rd birthday, on 28 August 2009, thousands of people attended a prayer rally for Gilad at the Western Wall, and dozens of activists protested outside Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, slamming Defense Minister Ehud Barak and criticizing IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.[72]

Jewish Internet Defense Force (JIDF) organized in August 2009 a pro-Shalit campaign on the social networking site Twitter. Twitter users drove Shalit's name to the second-highest trend on the day of his 23rd birthday. Tweets for Shalit ranged from the demand "Free Shalit" to requests for international supervision of the case.[73]

Shalit Protest Tent in Jerusalem

In several incidents during 2009, the leaders of the campaign to free Shalit demonstrated at the prisons where Palestinian detainees are held, preventing visits by Palestinian prisoners' families.[74][75][76] One such demonstration at the Erez crossing on the Gaza border blocked the passage of food and medicine to the Gaza Strip.[77] Israel says it will not ease its blockade of Gaza until Shalit is freed. The abducted soldier's long plight has been an extremely emotional issue within Israel, with large, tearful rallies on his birthdays and frequent media appearances by his father. Reflecting wide support for the cause, one Israeli TV anchor ends his daily newscast by mournfully reciting how many days the soldier has been held captive. Lately, however, Israeli opponents of such a deal have been speaking out, warning that releasing top Palestinian militants could result in the deaths of many Israelis in renewed attacks, as well as increased Palestinian motivation to kidnap more soldiers in the future. {{citation}}: Empty citation (help) Israeli analyst Dan Schueftan has called the possible swap deal "the greatest significant victory for terrorism that Israel has made possible."[78]


Notable events 2008–11

See also: 2008 Israel-Hamas ceasefire: Gilad Shalit and Gaza War

In early December 2008, during a Hamas rally in Gaza City to mark 21 years since its founding, a Hamas member masquerading as Shalit was paraded by Hamas militiamen.[79] Hamas' refusal to negotiate about the status of Shalit or even to provide further information about his status strained the temporary Israel-Hamas cease-fire enacted in June 2008.[80]

File:Tel-Aviv University students protest unlawful holding of Gilad Shalit by hamas.jpg
Tel Aviv University students protest Shalit being held without Red Cross visits; January 2009

At the start of the Gaza War, Hamas claimed that Shalit had been wounded by Israeli fire.[81] On 11 January 2009, Abu Marzuk, Deputy Chief of the Hamas Political Ministry, told the London-based Arabic daily, Al-Hayat that "Shalit may have been wounded, and he may not have been. The subject no longer interests us. We are not interested in his well-being at all, and we are not giving him any special guard since he is as good as a cat or less."[82]

On 22 January 2009, Israel indicated that it was willing to swap Palestinians held in Israeli jails for Shalit as part of a longer-term truce after the three-week military operation in Gaza.[83] On 26 January 2009, it was reported that Israel was offering to free 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.[84] On 16 March 2009, it was reported that a prisoner-swap deal to gain Shalit's release was close, and the negotiation team was urged to wrap up the deal. Israel agreed to release more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, but there were still disagreements over the number of prisoners.[85] The negotiation team however deadlocked over the release of 450 "heavyweight" prisoners. According to a senior source in the PM's Office, "a deal cannot be finalized on such terms, and there's nothing to vote on (in the government session) Tuesday".[86] In May 2009, President Shimon Peres invited Shalit's family to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the President's residence in Jerusalem.[87]

In June 2009, Israeli human rights group B'Tselem published an ad in the West Bank Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, calling on Hamas to release Shalit "immediately and unconditionally", but the Gaza-based daily 'Palestine' refused to print it, according to a B'Tselem spokeswoman.[88] In July 2009, Hamas TV in Gaza broadcast a short animated movie that depicted Shalit chained to a jail cell wall, pleading with a Palestinian boy to be set free. The boy refuses, saying he has relatives in Israeli prisons.[89]

In July 2009, Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, testified before the Goldstone Committee, which was investigating on behalf of the United Nations illegal conduct by combatants during Gaza War. Shalit told the committee that his son has lived without human rights for three years, and that no one, including the Red Cross, knows what happened to him or paid him a visit.[90]

The Jerusalem Post reported that it obtained photographs showing children at the graduation ceremony of a Hamas-run summer camp, reenacting Shalit's abduction.[91] The photos were reported to show Osama Mazini, a senior Hamas political official in charge of the Shalit negotiations with Israel, attending the play.[92]

On 30 September 2009, Israel announced that it would release twenty female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a video proving Shalit was still alive.[93] The video was attributed to intervention by Switzerland.[94] The exchange took place successfully on 2 October.

Hamas turned over a 2-minute and 40-second video to Israel. Senior IDF officers, Defense Ministe Ehud Barak, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu viewed the footage, after which Barak spoke to Gilad's father Noam and grandfather Zvi by telephone. The video was sent to the Shalit family home in Mitzpe Hila, with the family reportedly viewing it together. Members of the Israeli negotiating team for Shalit's release viewed the footage to ensure it met with Israel's demands, primarily with regard to how recently it was filmed. The video, the only contact from Shalit other than three letters written by him and an audio tape released in June 2007, was released to the public at around 4:00 in the afternoon on Israeli television. In the video, Shalit is seen sitting in a chair in a bare room, looking frail and emaciated but otherwise healthy. He addressed Netanyahu and his parents, and reminisced about times he spent with his family. At the end of the video, he stated that the "Mujahideen of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades are treating me very well". During the video, he held up a newspaper dated Monday, 14 September 2009.[95]

Israel transferred 19 Palestinian women being held in Hadarim Prison near Netanya to the Ofer and Shikma detention facilities, ahead of their final release. As soon as it was determined that the video met Israel's demands, the detainees were released and turned over to Red Cross vehicles, which transported them to the West Bank. Another female prisoner was slated for release by the Israel Prison Service, but it was found that she had already been released for good behavior. A female prisoner was then selected as a substitute, and released on 3 June.[96]

Shalit's mother and brother at IPO solidarity concert

In 2010, at least two cathedrals in Switzerland turned off their lights for several minutes in solidarity with Shalit.[97] On the fourth anniversary of Shalit's abduction, the lights of the Colosseum were turned off and so were the lights around the Old City walls in Jerusalem. A flotilla of ships, called The True Freedom Flotilla, sailed around the Statue of Liberty and past the United Nations. [citation needed]

In late June 2010, Shalit's parents organized a march from Shalit's hometown to the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, and were joined by 10,000 people. Shalit's parents stated that they would not go home until Gilad was freed. On the fifth day of the march, as it reached Hadera, Israel agreed to a German-mediated prisoner exchange deal. Under the deal, Hamas would release Shalit, and Israel would release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. However, Israel stated that the released Palestinians would be barred from entering the West Bank, since this location would afford them access to Israeli cities. Israel also refused to release "arch-terrorists" as part of the deal. Hamas responded by saying that the problem was with who Israel was willing to release, not how many. Hamas demanded that Israel release 450 prisoners jailed for violent attacks on Israelis, but Israel refused to agree to release most of them. In an address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel was willing to pay a heavy price for Shalit, "but not any price". Shalit's grandfather Zvi called these comments a "death sentence" for Gilad.[98] When a pro-Gilad Shalit release march entered Jerusalem on July 8, it was met by a group of protesters holding signs "Gilad – Not at any cost" and "Don't give up to terror". The protesters had red ribbons on their hands symbolizing the blood of possible future terror victims resulting from any exchange in terrorists for Shalit's release.[99] Those calling for Shalit's release included celebrities Bar Refaeli and Zubin Mehta.[100]

In October 2010, Hamas officials claimed to have thwarted an attempt to locate Shalit. A collaborator in Hamas's military wing was caught planting bugs in two-way radios. Hamas leaders said the informer maintained relationships with top Hamas commanders in order to learn information about where Shalit is being held.[101]

At the end of November 2010, PA President Mahmoud Abbas called for Shalit to be released, comparing his situation to that of Arab prisoners held in Israeli prisons.[102]

In June 2011, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a joint press conference issued a call for Shalit's release. This followed Shalit's father, Noam, filing a suit in France to investigate his son's kidnapping. Shalit is a dual citizen, also holding French citizenship.[65]

On October 11, 2011, it was reported that Israel and Hamas reached an agreement for Shalit's release, and he is expected to return on October 18, 2011.[103]

Location

The location where Shalit is being held is unknown. According to Israeli Home Front Defense Minister Matan Vilnai, even the leaders of Hamas do not know Shalit's exact whereabouts. Only a small group of militants knew where Shalit was being held, and most of them had been killed in IDF operations. According to Vilnai, "there is a very small group of people who are holding Gilad Shalit who know, and a large number of them are no longer with us".[104]

In June 2007, Israeli media, citing Hamas sources, reported that Shalit was being held in the basement of a booby-trapped building near Rafah, and was being cared for by two captors with whom he had established a cordial relationship. Shalit's living quarters were described as a two-room underground store with enough supplies for two weeks, accessible down a ladder through a 15-meter deep shaft lined with explosives. The report added that the captors receive supplies and newspaper cuttings every two weeks, and that they had been ordered to take good care of Shalit.[105]

In October 2009, Asharq Al-Awsat reported that a senior Israeli defense official had told the newspaper that Israel knew exactly where Shalit was being held, and was keeping the location under constant surveillance. The newspaper reported that Hamas was aware that Israel knew Shalit's location, and responded by booby-trapping the area, surrounding it with explosives in a 400–500 meter radius, and issuing a directive to kill Shalit if Israel mounted a military rescue operation.[106]

In June 2011, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jarida reported that Shalit had been transferred to a secure location in Egypt ahead of an expected final deal. The newspaper quoted sources as saying that Shalit had been taken to a secret and secure location in Egypt, accompanied by Hamas commanders Ahmed Jabari and Mahmoud al-Zahar.[107]

International law

Since 2006, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has repeatedly asked Hamas to allow visits by the ICRC to ascertain Shalit's conditions of detention and treatment, but Hamas refused the requests. An ICRC representative said that under international humanitarian law Shalit is entitled to regular and unconditional contacts with his family.[108] On 25 June 2007, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem issued a statement saying "international humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands, while threatening to harm or kill the person if the demands are not met", and thus holding Shalit as a hostage to their demands is a war crime.[109] B'Tselem also noted that denying access to ICRC visitations is also a violation of international law.[109] Israeli NGO Monitor said that Shalit's abductors breach several provisions of the Third Geneva Convention, e.g., the right to humane treatment (Art. 13); the right to have knowledge of a POW's location (Art. 23); and the right to unfettered access to the Red Cross (Art. 126).[110] Human Rights Watch has also stated that Hamas authorities are obligated by the laws of war to allow Shalit to correspond with his family, and noted that three letters and a voice recording cannot be counted as regular correspondence. HRW has also called to receive visits from the ICRC and said that prolonged incommunicado detention of Shalit is cruel and inhumane and may amount to torture.[111]

A U.N. fact-finding mission headed by Judge Richard Goldstone assigned to investigate the Gaza War, which released its report in September 2009, called for Shalit to be released.[17] In June 2010, on the fourth anniversary of Shalit's capture, Human Rights Watch made a statement describing Hamas' treatment of Shalit as "cruel and inhuman" saying it illustrates the UN definition of torture and violates the international rules of war by prohibiting him from having contact with his family or visits from the Red Cross.[112]

Gerald Steinberg, president of "human rights watchdog NGO Monitor" was quoted in October 2011 as saying that many human rights organizations, "such as the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, Gisha and the International Red Cross demonstrated very little interest" in the Shalit case.[113]

Efforts to help Gilad Shalit

"Where are you, kid?" Notes for Gilad Shalit, Jerusalem

5th Anniversary Campaign (2011)

In June 2011, the Zionist Federation, among other organizations, stepped up a campaign to ensure Shalit and his abduction is not forgotten, encouraging members and sympathizers to contact their local MP, MEP and to write letters to newspapers and to Shalit's family with words of support.[114] This followed a two-week Gilad Shalit Awareness Campaign in February, organized by the Embassy of Israel alongside ten other community organizations.

Several prominent Israeli, Palestinian and international human rights organizations issued a joint statement in June 2011 calling on Hamas to end its "illegal" and "inhumane" treatment of Shalit, including Amnesty International, B'Tselem, Bimkom, Gisha, Human Rights Watch, Palestinian Center for Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights, Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Rabbis for Human Rights, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Yesh Din;[115] though Noah Pollak, writing in Commentary noted that the statement did not call for the release of Shalit.[116]

A protest was also held in August 2011 outside Benjamin Netanyahu's office to mark Shalit's sixth birthday in captivity.[117] Gilad Shalit's father Noam also spoke at the social justice protest in Tel Aviv.[118]

Gilad Shalit Worldwide Tehillim Project

The Gilad Shalit Worldwide Tehillim Project[119] was established to support the reciting of Tehillim (Psalms) for Gilad Shalit. The goal is to have all of Tehillim recited daily.

Honorary citizenships

Paris, France

Free Gilad poster in France

On 16 December 2008, Shalit was named an honorary citizen of Paris, France, after Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoë and the City Council unanimously voted to give the title to Shalit. The group Collective Freedom for Gilad praised the decision, stating "it is with immense joy that we have welcomed the news, which shows how well the French state is mobilized at every level to make it possible for a young man to regain his freedom and family". The French town of Raincy has also named Shalit an honorary citizen, and the Grenoble City Hall hung his photo on their building facade the week of 10 December 2008.[120]

Rome, Italy

During a public menorah-lighting ceremony on 21 December 2008, Gianni Alemanno, the Mayor of Rome, Italy, said that a proposal by Rome Jewish Community President Riccardo Pacifici (the grandson of Riccardo Reuven Pacifici) to make Shalit an honorary citizen of Rome was "an excellent idea." Alemanno added that he wanted to extend the honor "to give a sign of solidarity to the Jewish community."[121] On 16 April 2009, during a formal evening celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary, Alemanno announced that the city declared Shalit an honorary citizen. Alemanno said that the Shalit affair does not concern the State of Israel alone, but the whole of humanity.[122] On 1 July 2009, Alemanno conferred the honor to Shalit at a ceremony and presented a parchment declaration to Shalit's father, Noam. Alemanno said that making Shalit an honorary citizen was "a gesture of high symbolic value, with which Rome chooses to salute the values of life, of solidarity and of respect for the human rights." He added, "You cannot win using violence, kidnapping and ransom."[123]

Miami, FL, US

On 23 April 2009, Shalit was made an honorary citizen of Miami. The move was announced during a municipality council meeting, which also approved a bill declaring Israel's Independence Day as "Israel Day" in Miami.[124]

New Orleans, LA, US

The city of New Orleans made Shalit an honorary citizen on 25 June 2009, the third anniversary of his capture.[125]

Baltimore, MD, US

The city of Baltimore made Shalit an honorary citizen on 29 June 2011, the fifth anniversary of his capture.[126]

Pittsburgh, PA, US

The city of Pittsburgh made Shalit an honorary citizen on 30 August 2011, in honor of his twenty fifth birthday.[127]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Hamas releases audio of captured Israeli". USA Today. 25 June 2007.
  2. ^ McCarthy, Rory (30 August 2009). "Germany in talks to help secure release of Israeli soldier Shalit". The Guardian. London.
  3. ^ "UK demands release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit". CNN. 28 August 2010.
  4. ^ Kraft, Dina (9 March 2009). "Hamas puts captured Israeli soldier on video tape". The Daily Telegraph. London.
  5. ^ Miskin, Maayana (2008-10-26). "Hamas Demands Release of Notorious Killers". Arutz Sheva.
  6. ^ Pedahzur, Ami (2010). The Israeli Secret Services and the Struggle Against Terrorism. Columbia University Press. p. 131. ISBN 9780231140430.
  7. ^ [1] – Haaretz, [2] – UPI: – "[K]idnapped soldier Gilad Shalit"
  8. ^ a b Calev Ben-David (December 21, 2009). "Israel Orders More Talks on Shalit Prisoner Swap Deal (Update2)". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 29, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Matt Beynon Rees (January 6, 2010). "Analysis: The "Palestinian Nelson Mandela". The Boise Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Kraft, Dina. (2009-03-17) Deal’s collapse extends Shalit saga. Jta.org. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  11. ^ "Who are the deadly terrorists Israel refuses to release for Shalit?"
  12. ^ "Israel to publish Hamas prisoner list". Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  13. ^ Kershner, Isabel (1 October 2009). "Israel to Free 20 Palestinians in Return for Proof Soldier Is Alive". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Parents of captured Israeli soldier camp outside Olmert's home - CNN.com". CNN. 8 March 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  15. ^ "The Bitter Politics Of Prisoner Exchanges". CBS News. 3 July 2008.
  16. ^ "Inside Israel's Talks with Hamas". Time. 10 July 2007. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  17. ^ a b http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/15/un-gaza-war-israel-hamas "Inquiry into Gaza conflict singles out Israeli policy towards Palestinians for most serious condemnation"
  18. ^ "The Deauville G-8 Declaration". The White House (Press release). 27 May 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  19. ^ "US calls for kidnapped Israeli soldier Shalit to be freed". 30 August 2009.
  20. ^ "Gilad Shalit: Tentative signs of fresh moves ahead of 5th anniversary". The Guardian. 20 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  21. ^ "Sarkozy, in letter to Gilad Shalit: 'France will not abandon you'". Haaretz. 26 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  22. ^ "Tony Blair: Saying what he can without saying too much". The Independent. 27 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  23. ^ a b "PM vows to end jailed terrorists' privileges". Jerusalem Post. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  24. ^ "Shalit's Parents to Sue in France: Our Son Held as Hostage". National News. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  25. ^ "Rights groups to Hamas: Allow Red Cross to Schalit". Jerusalem Post. 24 June 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2011.
  26. ^ 'Israel Threatens to Widen Conflict Over Captured Soldier' by Ian Fisher and Steven Erlanger, New York Times
  27. ^ 'Militants issue Israel hostage demands'. ABC (2006-06-27). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  28. ^ "Israel seizes Hamas legislators". BBC. 29 June 2006.
    – Cpl Gilad Shalit, 19: First Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinians since 1994
    – Amnesty International, the human rights group, called for all hostages to be released [...].
  29. ^ "Parents of Gilad Shalit received their son's ranks of Staff Sergeant". Ynet.co.il (1995-06-20). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  30. ^ "Behind the Headlines: Six months in terrorist captivity". Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2007.
  31. ^ Appel, Yoav; et al. (25 June 2006). "Shalit's dad: 'Hope is all we have left'". Jerusalem Post. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  32. ^ Two soldiers killed, one missing in Kerem Shalom terror attack. Mfa.gov.il. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  33. ^ Q&A: Israeli soldier held in Gaza, BBC News, Monday, 25 June 2007.
  34. ^ Hoffman, Gil; et al. (29 June 2006). "Shalit's health better than first feared". Jerusalem Post. {{cite news}}: Explicit use of et al. in: |first= (help)
  35. ^ "Militants issue Israel hostage demands". CNN. 26 June 2006. [dead link]
  36. ^ "Gaza fighting impeding Schalit talks". The Jerusalem Post. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 11 April 2009.
  37. ^ "Israel captures pair in Gaza raid". BBC. 24 June 2006. Retrieved 1 August 2006.
  38. ^ "Israel seizes Hamas legislators". BBC. 29 June 2006.
    – Cpl Gilad Shalit, 19: First Israeli soldier captured by Palestinians since 1994
    – Amnesty International, the human rights group, called for all hostages to be released [...].
  39. ^ 'Shalit's father expresses hope Hamas is willing to negotiate' By Avi Issacharoff and Jonathan Lis, Haaretz
  40. ^ Hamas: Head of Al-Qaida affiliate killed in Gaza, Haaretz, 18 August 2009
  41. ^ Rosenberg, David (28 June 2006). "Israeli Army Enters Gaza to Find Kidnapped Soldier (update 2)". Bloomberg.com.
  42. ^ Hanan Greenberg (28 June 2006). "IAF: Aerial flight over Assad's palace". Ynetnews. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  43. ^ "Today in the News". Israel Broadcasting Authority. 29 June 2006.
  44. ^ "Israel: 'Sky will fall' if soldier is harmed". Times of Oman. 5 July 2006.
  45. ^ "FACTBOX—The crisis over Israel's captured soldier". Reuters. 2 July 2006.
  46. ^ "Palestinian militants issue ultimatum to Israel". Reuters. 3 July 2006.
  47. ^ "Minister Ramon: IDF operations in Gaza will be 'far far worse' if Shalit harmed". Haaretz. 3 July 2006.
  48. ^ "Pope's rep tried for Shalit's release". Jerusalem Post. 19 July 2006.
  49. ^ "Proof of life letter from captive Israeli soldier". News Interactive. 15 September 2006. {{cite news}}: External link in |publisher= (help) [dead link]
  50. ^ "Progress on Israel-Palestinian prisoner swap-Hamas" Alternet, 26 October 2006
  51. ^ "Shalit captivity 'to end in days'". al Jazeera. 26 October 2006. Archived from the original on 27 November 2006. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 7 November 2006 suggested (help)
  52. ^ "Hamas predicts new uprising if no peace progress" Asharq Al-Awsat, 25 November 2006
  53. ^ Abu Toameh, Khaled (9 January 2007). "We're ready to keep Shalit for years". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 January 2007. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  54. ^ Army of Islam: IDF soldier Shalit held exclusively by Hamas Ha'aretz, 18 January 2007
  55. ^ "Schalit agreement 'all but finished'" The Jerusalem Post, 8 March 2007
  56. ^ "Sources: Hamas gives Israel letter from Gilad Shalit" Ha'aretz, 4 February 2008
  57. ^ Ha'aretz Service and News Agencies (13 April 2008). "Noam Shalit: The fact that Carter isn't pro-Israel may be beneficial". Ha'aretz. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  58. ^ "Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter" Ha'aretz, 10 June 2008
  59. ^ "Hamas says not interested in renewing Shalit negotiations" Ha'aretz, Avi Issacharoff and Amos Harel
  60. ^ United Nations Security Council Verbotim Report 5963. S/PV/5963 page 2. Lynn Pascoe Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs 20 August 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
  61. ^ "Israel to release 200 Palestinian prisoners". The Irish Times. 17 August 2008.
  62. ^ BBC News: "Russian President calls for release of Gilad Shalit" May 11, 2010
  63. ^ SElder Shalit blames US for blocking bargaining talks. Shalomlife.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  64. ^ "Israel ready to deal for Shalit release: Netanyahu". Reuters. 1 July 2010.
  65. ^ a b Egypt: Shalit will disappear unless Israel compromises with Hamas – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  66. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-hamas-reach-gilad-shalit-prisoner-exchange-deal-officials-say-1.389404
  67. ^ "In Shalit deal, Israel did cross its own red lines." Haaretz Newspaper, 14 October 2011.
  68. ^ "Hamas publishes list of prisoners to be freed; Israel expects Shalit return Tuesday." Haaretz Newspaper, 14 October 2011.
  69. ^ Hamas Vows Soldier's Release
  70. ^ a b c d Prisoners Dilemma, JPost, 25 March 2009
  71. ^ Haaretz, 1 Mar. 2010, "Noam Shalit Urges UN to Implement Goldstone Report," http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1153080.html
  72. ^ Shalit family marks Gilad's 23rd b'day JPost, 28 August 2009
  73. ^ 'Tweet4Schalit' campaign reaches No. 2 spot in Twitter, JPost, 27 August 2009
  74. ^ Haaretz. "Return Gilad Shalit, but not at any price." by Gideon Levy. 30 Aug. 2009. Retrieved: 30 August 2009
  75. ^ Israelis demand Red Cross visit Shalit, UPI, 25 August 2009. Upi.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  76. ^ Protesters block security prisoners' visits at Sharon Prison, YNET, 23 March 2009. Ynetnews.com (1995-06-20). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  77. ^ Haaretz. "Return Gilad Shalit, but not at any price." by Gideon Levy. 30 Aug. 2009. Retrieved: 30 August 2009.
  78. ^ Israeli Warplanes Bomb Gaza Tunnels. Globalsecurity.org (2010-01-02). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  79. ^ Mock-Schalit paraded in Hamas rally, Jerusalem Post, 14 Dec 2008
  80. ^ Gaza Truce May Be Revived by Necessity. By Ethan Bronner. The New York Times. 19 December 2008.
  81. ^ Psychological Tricks to Demoralize the Enemy, Spiegel, Jan.16, 2009
  82. ^ Hamas: Shalit ‘no longer interests us’, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 11 January 2009.
  83. ^ Prisoner swap[dead link]
  84. ^ ''New York Daily News'' report on Shalit. Nydailynews.com (2009-01-26). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  85. ^ Federman, Josef (16 March 2009). "Israeli envoys race to free captive soldier". Google. Associated Press. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  86. ^ "Palestinians: Swap talks deadlocked over 'heavyweight' prisoners". Ynet. 17 March 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  87. ^ Peres invites Gilad Shalit's family to meet pope. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  88. ^ B'Tselem call to free Shalit banned in Gaza, Ynet, 25 June 2009
  89. ^ Hamas taunts Israel with Gilad Shalit cartoon, Haaretz, 7 July 2009
  90. ^ "Noam Shalit to UN: My son's abduction was a war crime", Haaretz, 7 July 2009
  91. ^ Gaza campers stage 'Shalit abduction' at final ceremony JPost, 27 July 2009
  92. ^ Children stage Shalit kidnapping, UPI, 27 July 2009
  93. ^ Bousso, Ron (30 Sept 2009). "Israel to free prisoners for info on captured soldier". AFP. Retrieved 30 September 2009. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  94. ^ "Das IKRK soll Gilad Shalit besuchen können" (in German). Curia Vista – Geschäftsdatenbank – Die Bundesversammlung – Das Schweizer Parlament. 2011-02-16. Retrieved 2011-03-18. Das Video von Gilad Shalit, das die De-facto-Behörden in Gaza im Herbst 2009 veröffentlichten, ist namentlich auf eine Intervention der Schweiz zurückzuführen. [Translation: 'Namely the Video of Gilad Shalit that the de-facto authorities of Gaza published in the autumn of 2009 is to be attributed to an intervention of Switzerland.']
  95. ^ "Trade for Shalit info completed". Jerusalem Post. 20 October 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.
  96. ^ Khoury, Jack. (2009-09-14) Gilad Shalit in video: I've been longing for my freedom for a long time – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  97. ^ Zurich churches to turn off lights for Shalit Swiss cathedrals honor Gilad Shalit
  98. ^ Service, Haaretz. (2010-06-02) 'Israel willing to pay heavy price to free Gilad Shalit – but not any price' – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  99. ^ July 8, 2010 anti-terrorist exchange protest in Jerusalem. Israelnationalnews.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  100. ^ Freid, Stephanie L.. (2010-07-14) Is Bill Clinton the Key to Winning Gilad Shalit’s Release?. Pajamas Media. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  101. ^ 'Hamas thwarts attempt to locate Gilad Schalit'. Jpost.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  102. ^ Gedalyahu, Tzvi Ben (30 November 2010). "Abbas: Free Shalit – 4 ½ Years after He Turned Down His Freedom". Israel National News. Arutz Sheva. Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  103. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/report-israel-hamas-reach-gilad-shalit-prisoner-exchange-deal-1.389404
  104. ^ 'Even Hamas leaders don't know where Shalit is' – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  105. ^ Shalit's father expresses hope Hamas is willing to negotiate – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  106. ^ Report: Shalit's Location Known – Defense/Middle East – News. Israel National News. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  107. ^ Report: Shalit transferred to secure location in Egypt – Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News. Haaretz.com. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  108. ^ Gaza: ICRC urges Hamas to allow captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit regular contact with his family, ICRC, 18-06-2009
  109. ^ a b "Holding Gilad Shalit as a hostage is a war crime" – B'Tselem press release (25 June 2007)
  110. ^ "Exploitation of International Law". NGO Monitor. 21 January 2009.
  111. ^ Gaza: Allow Shalit Contact With Family, (and) with International Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, 24 June 2009
  112. ^ Danon, Danny. (2010-06-25) Hamas has no new information on Schalit – JPost – International. JPost. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  113. ^ practices of democracy do not sit comfortably with Greens or Labor eggheads
  114. ^ Zionist Federation of Great Britain and Ireland. Zionist.org.uk. Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  115. ^ Efforts intensify for release of Gilad Shalit on fifth anniversary of his capture. Jta.org (2011-06-26). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  116. ^ “Human Rights Community” Agrees: Gilad Shalit Should Remain in Captivity. Commentarymagazine.com (2011-06-24). Retrieved on 2011-08-29.
  117. ^ "Israelis mark Gilad Shalit's sixth birthday in captivity with protests". Haaretz. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  118. ^ "Noam Shalit to speak at Tel Aviv social justice protest". Haaretz. 27 August 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  119. ^ "Gilad Shalit Worldwide Tehillim Project".
  120. ^ "Shalit named citizen of Paris". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  121. ^ "Rome's mayor favors giving Shalit citizenship". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  122. ^ Khoury, Jack (31 March 2009). "Noam Shalit: Netanyahu must outdo Olmert's attempts to release Gilad". Haaretz. Retrieved 24 June 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  123. ^ Shalit named honorary Roman citizen, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA), 2 July 2009.
  124. ^ Benhorin, Yitzhak (23 April 2009). "Miami names Shalit honorary citizen". Ynetnews. Retrieved 24 June 2009. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  125. ^ 25 Jun 2009, Schalit demo held at Defense Ministry [3]
  126. ^ 29 Jun 2011, Gilad Shalit is made Honorary Citizen of Baltimore – State of Maryland and Baltimore City Demand his Release [4]
  127. ^ 30 Aug 2011, Israeli prisoner of war named honorary citizen of Pittsburgh [5]

External links

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