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Contact:
Ansell Brauner , Gila
Department for Zionist Activities
 Tel: +972 (2) 620-2176
Fax: +972 (2) 620-4182
gilaa@wzo.org.il

Call to Action: Bring Gilad Shalit Home!

March 12, 2009
Briefing and activity ideas for the 1,000 Days Campaign/ around the Facebook Rally, updated 17th March 2009

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 Call to Action:

Gilad Shalit – 1,000 Days of Captivity

 

Briefing

 

Gilad Shalit was captured by the Hamas terrorist organization inside sovereign Israel on 27th June 2006, since which time he has been held incommunicado, with rare testimony to the fact that he remains alive.

On Shabbat, 21st March 2009, - if a miracle does not happen between now and then – Gilad Shalit will have spent his 1,000th day in this inhumane captivity.

 

As you know, from the saying "Kol Yisrael Areivim Zeh Bezeh" – All Israel is responsible for each other – comes the Mitzvah of Pidyon Shevuyim – the precept of Redemption of Prisoners. This is where everyone can help make a difference. We suggest that Zionist, Jewish, Interfaith and Human Rights organizations mark this day in different ways, in small and large numbers, and would like to bring you some ideas and resources to assist you.

 

Join our Facebook Virtual Rally on

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=57179787697

What Does Gilad Shalit Have to Do With Us?

Article by David Breakstone, Jerusalem Post, 16th March 2009.
Article with Visuals on http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237114834069&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull   

Print version: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237114834069&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FPrinter 

Hebrew report http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/868/660.html
[Translation below]


 

 

Outline Ideas 

1.       Issues & Advocacy

What is Mitzvat Pidyon Shevuyim and how can we get involved?

·        Learn about the basis of Kol Yisrael Areivim (mutual responsibility) and the criteria for Pidyon Shevuyim from the resources below;

·        Discuss the price Israel is expected to pay for Gilad's release from Points to Ponder and the articles below;

·        Explore the different modes of activism offered by lobby websites - choose ideas and angles appropriate for your group or community.

 

2.     Something for everyone to do - simple activities

Writing a petition and mailing it conventionally will build real-time volume, so write not only to your government, elected representatives, but write to the International Red Cross (ICRC) to demand that they protest to the Red Crescent because Gilad has not been allowed a visitor by the ICRC. Write to national UN organizations,

 

3.     Online Communities

Through blogs and linking to our Facebook community, students and activists can connect with Gilad and his predicament at different levels:

·        Writing about Gilad (including projects and essays for schools);

·        Sending messages and letters to Gilad's family;

·        Composing a poem or song;

·        Discussing Pidyon Shevuyim;

·        Contributing to an online rally or blog for Gilad.

 

4.     Public Events

As you can see from the Hagshama Dept events below, there is a wide range of leisure activism programming that can be done in small or large groups:

·        Bike for Gilad;

·        Jump for Gilad (sponsored parachute jumps);

·        Balloons for Freedom (at a rally, meeting, or walk)

·    For your rally or demonstration: Create an Israeli solidarity flag for Gilad with handprints (see images below and instructions in Hebrew http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/Hebrew/Education/????+????

 

Whatever you plan, however informal, please get labelled photos, Gilad banners and images up on your blogs, online rallies, in order to give the campaign greater media exposure; send notices to the press and human rights' organizations.

 

 

Online Resources

 

 Habanim dedicated campaign website (Israel) http://www.habanim.org/en/index_en.html

 

 Activism websites (USA)

 

 MFA pages from here (updated)

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/Behind+the+Headlines/Behind+the+Headlines-+Six+months+in+terrorist+captivity+11-Jan-2007.htm

 

 Jewish Agency EducationAZM Resources on Pidyon Shevuyim:

 

·        Mitzvat Pidyon Shevuyim – Hand-Outs for Lesson by AZM

·        Lesson Outline on MIAs by Fred Greene AZM

·        MIA Background Info for Lesson

·        Excerpts & Testimonies for Lesson

 

 Hagshama, WZO

 

 

Religious Services, WZO

 

AZM - American Zionist Movement

 

AZM collected thousands of letters and cards for Gilad Shalit with messages of our solidarity and prayers on his behalf and entrusted them with the International Red Cross, for direct delivery to Gilad.

Read the Red Cross's response to AZM here. Read (PDF)

Raise awareness about Gilad Shalit amongst your family, friends, and community:

            ·         Purchase a Gilad Shalit dogtag: www.azm.org/shalit_dogtag.shtml

            ·         Distribute a Petition: www.azm.org/Petition.pdf (PDF)

            ·        Plan a rally to show support and solidary in your community.

            ·        Download posters here: www.azm.org/posters.shtml

 

Translation of NRG Report:
Jews around the world "Give Gilad Shalit a Hand"

 

Shalit family received flag of Israel with handprints of thousands of Jews expressing support. Virtual Protest Tent also created on Facebook.

Eli Levy, 19 March 2009

http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/868/660.html

 

In the wake of the failure in reaching a deal to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, many Jewish communities around the world mobilized in moral support for the Shalit family. Jewish Agency representatives came to the family's protest tent opposite the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem on Thursday afternoon and presented a flag with the handprints of thousands of young Jews around the world, as well as the legend: "Give Gilad a Hand".

 

The flag was prepared in hundreds of activities led by Jewish Agency shlichim in about 200 Jewish schools and kindergartens around North America, Europe, South America, Australia, China and other countries. During the designing and creating of the flag, the shlichim held educational activities explaining what had happened to Gilad Shalit and also read his story, "When the Shark Met the Fish".

 

In parallel, the Department for Zionist Activities, The World Zionist Organization, opened a Virtual Tent on the Facebook social network, as a platform where Jews around the world could express their solidarity with members of the kidnapped soldier's family.

 

To date, thousands of Jews have visited the Virtual Tent, which offers them an opportunity to join the thousands of Israelis who have visited the Shalit family's protest tent in Jerusalem in recent days. The Virtual Tent can be searched on Facebook under the title: Free Gilad Shalit Virtual Rally or Bring Gilad Shalit Home.

 

Further Coverage:

 

4000 Diaspora Jews Visit Virtual Tent in Support of Shalit Family

 

When Gilad Shalit's parents moved into a tent opposite PM Olmert's residence eleven days ago to press the case for the release of their son, Jews of the Diaspora began looking for a way to express their identification with the family. Among the solutions: a virtual tent pitched on Facebook (Bring Home Gilad Shalit). To date, more than 4000 visitors have "stopped by" to express their support for the effort, and more than a 1000 messages have been sent via the website of the Department for Zionist Activities of the World Zionist Organization, which initiated the project. "We were not taking a stand on whether or not the public campaign was the most effective way to bring about Gilad's release," explains David Breakstone, a member of the Zionist Executive who set the internet campaign in motion. "What we were doing was giving Jews of the Diaspora an opportunity to act on the value, so integral to our tradition, that all Jews are responsible for one another."

 

Comments and good wishes posted on the site make it clear that there are many outside of Israel's borders who relate to Gilad as a soldier of the entire Jewish people, who wish to make sure that when he comes home he will know that his sacrifice was appreciated. "We don't expect these efforts to expedite Gilad's return," notes Breakstone, "but we do hope that by bringing them to the attention of the Shalit family, we will have contributed just a tiny bit to strengthening their resolve and lifting their spirits."

 

Breakstone and the staff of his Department visited Noam Schalit, Gilad's father, on Thursday afternoon, and presented him with more than 100 pages of greetings from people across the globe, stretching from Australia, to the United States, Canada, England, South Africa, Argentina, and Uruguay. In accepting their good wishes, Noam warmly acknowledged the strong support he said he knew he could count on receiving from the Jews of the Diaspora. 

 

For further information: gilaa@wzo.org.il

See also: http://azm.org

  

 The Exchange Debate

    Latest Articles:

           ·       Hamas Chief: Shalit's freedom depends on prisoner exchange, Roee Nahmias   (2008) http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3490478,00.html

·         Why agree to free terrorists only now? (Cease-fire agreement with Hamas), Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff (2009) http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1063007.html

·        Israel ready to pay 'terrible price' for Shalit, Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, Barak Ravid (2009)

·         Egyptian intelligence 'optimistic' about Shalit deal, Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, et al. (2.02.2009) http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1063064.html

·         http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1062608.html

·         Israel offered Hamas 75% aid in return for Shalit http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1062608.html

·        Sarkozy assures Noam Shalit that Gilad is alive (AP, January 2009)

·         http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1059152.html

·        Slain Minister Zeevi's widow: release killer for Shalit (2009)

·         http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1057520.html

·        Bereaved MK: Free my daughter's killer for Shalit, Amnon Meranda (2007)

http://www.ynet.co.il/english/articles/0,7340,L-3418025,00.html

·        Bitter Lemons – 4 articles: Yossi Alpher, Gassah Khatib, Amnon Zichroni, Mkhaimar Abusada (July 10, 2006)

http://www.bitterlemons.org/previous/bl100706ed27.html

 

With thanks to:
The State Zionist Council of Victoria, Australia, for their links collection, 17th March 2009 

 IDF Missing in Action

·        Israel's MIAs

·        MIA website

·        OU website

·        Ron Arad

·        Campaign Guide for Students & Educators

 

Help Save Gilad Shalit!
Help Save Gilad Shalit! 		Gilad Lives!
Gilad Lives!
Flag graphic for your handprints
Flag graphic for your handprints 		Sample handprint
Sample handprint
Photo: Sasson Tiram
Photo: Sasson Tiram