With Blockade Eased, Where’s Shalit?

Noam Shalit—the father of Gilad, the Israeli soldier captured and held by Hamas for more than four years—is furious that the recent easing of the Gaza blockade was a quid without a quo: The quo being his son.

“Yesterday, in a confident voice and without compromise Netanyahu announced the change in policy on the Gaza siege,” Shalit said. “In other words, he announced, ‘I surrendered to international pressure that was applied to us’ and we are asking where Gilad stands in this equation. We are asking where is Gilad, our son?”

The “pro-Israel, pro-peace” group J Street—last seen calling on legislators not to sign AIPAC-endorsed letters unequivocally backing the blockade—has released a memo arguing much the same thing. “J Street reiterates its call for Shalit’s immediate and unconditional release,” it reads, “and urges Members of Congress to highlight the opportunity—and moral imperative—that the Israeli Government’s wise policy shift in Gaza creates for Shalit’s captors to reciprocate.”

Noam Shalit Slams Netanyahu Over Ease of Gaza Blockade [Haaretz]
Earlier: J Street Challenges AIPAC Over Flotilla Letter