Thursday, January 29. 2009
Gilad Schalit's Mother, Aviva Schalit, has made a public plea to Prime Minister Olmert, Defense Minister Barak and Foreign Minister Livni regarding Israel's unwritten covenant with parents of soldiers:
"Before you leave the government or ask to be reelected, stand behind your promises," Aviva said.
"Like most of you, I sent my son to serve his country out of the belief that it in turn would do everything that it could to return him," she said, but that has not happened.
Since tank gunner Gilad, who is now 22, was kidnapped 948 days ago, "there have been two wars, personnel changes in the government and the army, a cease-fire, rockets, Grad missiles, mortar shells and God knows what else," Aviva said. But, "one thing has not changed. My son Gilad is still imprisoned by Hamas."
Since the creation of the state there has been an unwritten covenant between the IDF and the mothers of its soldiers, one that is so strong that it might as well be etched in stone, she said.
"We give you our sons and daughters, and the IDF returns them to us at the end of their service. They are not always healthy, they are not always whole, and sometimes they are not alive, but they always, always, return home," Aviva said.
Many of the older teenagers who were about to be drafted were paying close attention to Gilad's fate and the actions of the government to secure his release, she said...
To Olmert, Barak and Livni, she said, "Do not leave this mission to those who come after you."
Those of us who hope and pray for Schalit's release certainly want to see him home again soon. But not at any price.
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