Mrs. Aviva Shalit, Gilad’s mother, made a plea to the government’s most senior ministers, the members of the inner Security Cabinet, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, to bring Gilad home before stepping down from office. “I want to hug Gilad when I go to vote” stated Mrs. Shalit, who called on the senior officials to do everything possible before leaving office.
 
Mrs. Shalit stressed the people of Israel are willing to “pay a price” for Gilad’s release, quoting IDF soldiers who stated that for them, Operation Cast Lead was about stopping rocket attacks and bringing Gilad home. She added that the residents of rocket-stricken areas stated they would be willing to endure continued warfare towards bringing Gilad back home. Mrs. Shalit went on to speak of the “unwritten pact” that existed between mothers and the State of Israel, stating sadly that the agreement has been broken.
 
She painfully reminded officials that since falling into Hamas hands in June 2006, no one has been permitted to see Gilad, not even representatives of the International Red Cross. She questioned if he is dead or alive, ill or in good health, in the sunlight or a dark hole. “No one knows” she exclaimed.
 
Mrs. Shalit made her comments as the guest of the Geographical Tours’ Desert Queen which was launching its annual women’s jeep tour, this year dedicated to Gilad’s safe return home. The grief-stricken mother pleaded with the senior officials and the entire cabinet, calling on them to keep their promise and bring her son home prior to stepping down from office.
 
Both Aviva and her husband Noam have stated repeatedly that if Gilad is not released prior to the general elections on February 10th, it will mark a significant deterioration in the situation, adding such a reality may result in their son becoming another Ron Arad chas v’sholom.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)