Tzvi Shalit, Gilad’s grandfather, in his statements from the Jerusalem protest tent opposite the Prime Minister’s Office stated “we are dealing with a young man who is alive. We mustn’t permit him to become a Ron Arad 2.”

The elder Shalit and his son and daughter-in-law, Gilad’s parents, Noam and Aviva, took up position in the tent on Sunday along with supporters, planning to remain until Gilad is released or until Ehud Olmert steps down from office, whichever occurs first.

The elder Shalit added, “I understand the bereaved parents [who oppose a prisoner deal]. I too am a bereaved parent, having lost a son. My sister also lost a son. We must bring Gilad home. We mustn’t permit him to become a Ron Arad 2. We may not permit this to happen.”

The Shalit family has given years of service to the nation. Tzvi served in the navy and then for decades, a senior officer in Israel Police, in the northern command. His son Yoel, Noam’s twin brother, fell in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, killed by his Syrian captors on the Golan Heights.

Tzvi received the message and headed for the battlefield to search for his sons, who he was told were missing in battle. A number of days later, Noam was found alive and well on the southern front but Yoav was gone.

“Now perhaps you can imagine how I felt when I heard Gilad was abducted, and how I feel with each passing day” added Tzvi.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)