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July 16, 2010

March held for Shalit

Thousands of Israelis take to the streets in support.
EDGAR ASHER ISRANET

An estimated 120,000 Israelis from every walk of life, political persuasion, religious and non-religious, from all over the country participated in the recent two-week march to support the release of Israel Defence Forces soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas imprisonment.

Shalit was kidnapped by terrorists on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border four years ago. The segment of the march along the Tel Aviv Coastal Highway set off in the early morning hours of Monday, July 5, just north of Tel Aviv. Shalit’s parents, Aviva and Noam, and brother, Yoel, led marchers first towards the home of Defence Minister Ehud Barak. Outside the home, various well-known personalities, including Israel Meir Lau, Tel Aviv’s chief rabbi and former chief rabbi of Israel, addressed the rally. Barak’s wife, Nili Priell, also participated in the march.

Following the stop outside the Barak home, the rally moved towards the Defence Ministry and then on to Rabin Square to be addressed by other Israeli personalities.

The march, almost unprecedented in Israel, started in northern Israel, winding its way towards Jerusalem. Momentum grew as more and more people joined along the journey; the march arrived in Jerusalem on July 8, where a large demonstration was held outside the prime minister’s home.

The Shalit family has said that they will not return to their own home in the Galilee until their son is released.

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