Gilad Schalit.
935 Days away from home
The speech that Aviva Schalit mother of Gilad, on his 3rd birthday in captivity
I ask only one thing: Giladi, be strong, as you know how to be, and do not break down.”Today is your 22nd birthday of Gilad my beloved and dear son, so long since we have been together.Gilad, 22 years old today you are spending your 3rd birthday in captivity in the hands of the Hamas, in darkness, in total isolation, surrounded by four dark walls without even one single window. A third year in the hands of these evil people who do not recognize the most basic concept of human rights, the right of the individual as a human being.Today I have not baked a cake for you neither did I blow balloons; I have not got flowers or bought a gift. I have not even pondered what he would wish to receive for his birthday and when and how could we surprise him with a gift and with our good wishes of Mazal Tov.But instead, I have written something which combines a blessing and a wish in which I have asked only one thing: Giladi, be strong, as you know how to be, and do not break down. Think all the time that we are with you and for you and we will get you out of there. We, Dad, Mum, the family and the many friends and many people from all over the country who join us in the efforts for you and feel that time has come to take action. After 800 days and 800 long nights in prison, in this nightmare which you do not deserve – it is time to act.You do not deserve a third year in this terrible captivity. We, the family and this wonderful nation which continues to support you and try to do things for your sake. We will act tirelessly for your release…I repeat and say here and now, in front of our home in Hillah in the Western Galilee, there is no price for a child, a child whom we raised and educated here in the land of Israel, to love the country and to serve it. We sent you to serve in the army following the same values on which you were always brought up.There is no price for a life of a soldier who is sent by the state to serve and protect it and is falling into captivity while doing so…This is not a property deal. Here the issue is a life of a son, a child of this homeland, a life of a soldier in the Israeli Defence Force.In this context I chose to quote the words of a previous Chief of Staff:“A State which forgets its soldiers will end up by its soldiers forgetting her.”
935 Days away from home
The speech that Aviva Schalit mother of Gilad, on his 3rd birthday in captivity
I ask only one thing: Giladi, be strong, as you know how to be, and do not break down.”Today is your 22nd birthday of Gilad my beloved and dear son, so long since we have been together.Gilad, 22 years old today you are spending your 3rd birthday in captivity in the hands of the Hamas, in darkness, in total isolation, surrounded by four dark walls without even one single window. A third year in the hands of these evil people who do not recognize the most basic concept of human rights, the right of the individual as a human being.Today I have not baked a cake for you neither did I blow balloons; I have not got flowers or bought a gift. I have not even pondered what he would wish to receive for his birthday and when and how could we surprise him with a gift and with our good wishes of Mazal Tov.But instead, I have written something which combines a blessing and a wish in which I have asked only one thing: Giladi, be strong, as you know how to be, and do not break down. Think all the time that we are with you and for you and we will get you out of there. We, Dad, Mum, the family and the many friends and many people from all over the country who join us in the efforts for you and feel that time has come to take action. After 800 days and 800 long nights in prison, in this nightmare which you do not deserve – it is time to act.You do not deserve a third year in this terrible captivity. We, the family and this wonderful nation which continues to support you and try to do things for your sake. We will act tirelessly for your release…I repeat and say here and now, in front of our home in Hillah in the Western Galilee, there is no price for a child, a child whom we raised and educated here in the land of Israel, to love the country and to serve it. We sent you to serve in the army following the same values on which you were always brought up.There is no price for a life of a soldier who is sent by the state to serve and protect it and is falling into captivity while doing so…This is not a property deal. Here the issue is a life of a son, a child of this homeland, a life of a soldier in the Israeli Defence Force.In this context I chose to quote the words of a previous Chief of Staff:“A State which forgets its soldiers will end up by its soldiers forgetting her.”
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