A wooden tank used in the Free Gilad Shalit campaign left the soldier’s home in Givat Hila on Wednesday, beginning its tour of the country. Reserve duty battalion commander Yariv Sagi arranged for the tank, affixing a declaration to the outside documenting Gilad’s date of birth and captivity in addition to a call to all people of all regions and race to join in the battle for Gilad’s release, a document referred to by Mr. Shalit as “Gilad’s Declaration of Independence”. The tank is carried on the back of a flatbed truck. Gilad marks his 1,396th day in captivity today.

By sending an SMS text message from one’s cellular telephone, at a cost of NIS 4, one signs the declaration and also activates a system sending emails on Gilad’s behalf to 50 embassies and consulates around the world on his behalf. The money collected by the SMS campaign is dedicated to the ongoing struggle to gain the soldier’s release.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)