Red Cross comes under fire

Protestors rally for Gilad Shalit

By Malka Eisenberg

Issue of June 5, 2009 / 13 Sivan 5769

Groups of yeshiva students joined close to 1,000 protesters on 42nd St. and Second Ave in Manhattan on Wednesday to protest the International Red Cross’s inaction over the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

“The goal of the rally is to raise awareness and put pressure on the ICRC [International Committee of the Red Cross] to live up to their mandate,” said Rabbi Zev Friedman, Rosh Yeshiva of Machon HaTorah.  “Look at their charter on their web site touting the fact that they are a humanitarian organization that takes care of humanitarian aid around the world regardless of race, religion or creed and yet it is shocking to see that the only exception, the only case that they haven’t advocated for, is Gilad Shalit.”

In June 2006, Shalit was kidnapped from his tank unit on the Israeli side of the Gaza border by Arab terrorists who crossed into Israel via an underground tunnel and attacked the Israeli army post near Kerem Shalom.

“If the ICRC would tell Hamas that we will no longer provide you with humanitarian aid and visitations unless you let us do our work in a consistent manner, providing aid to Arab prisoners and in this case the one Israeli prisoner, I believe there would be movement on this issue,” emphasized Rabbi Friedman.

It’s time for the Red Cross to take full responsibility,” Friedman told the crowd, adding that “speaking nicely” is “not going to work.”

“Step up the pressure, meet with Shalit,” he urged. “It is time for the ICRC to put pressure on Hamas.”  He said that Arabs in Israeli prisons overall receive 18,500 visits a month from family members but that Gilad Shalit has not received even one.

Students from North Shore Hebrew Academy, SKA, DRS, Ramaz, Magen David, HAFTR, Shalhevet, Rambam, HANC, Central, and Yeshiva University donned “Free Gilad Shalit” T-shirts, waved placards and hand-made signs, and chanted “meet with Shalit,”  “do your job,” and “stop the double standard” outside the windows of the Red Cross.

“This was a beautiful effort of schools coming together,” noted Richard Altabe, principal of Magen David Yeshiva High School in Brooklyn.

“It is time to free Gilad Shalit,” Altabe shouted to the protesters.

“Today is the 48th day of the Omer,” he continued. “We count each day because each day counts. Gilad has been held captive for 1,070 days –– what greater humanitarian cause is there than for his parents to visit Gilad? Bring Gilad home! They [The IRC] have one job –– to bring aid and humanitarian assistance to people, victims, terrorists, even those who blow up women and children, everyone except Gilad Shalit. They refuse to meet with Shalit. They claim that they care, that they tried. Why won’t they meet with Gilad’s parents? Enough is enough!”

The Red Cross rally for Shalit was borne out of a planning session held in Rambam with Friedman, Altabe and Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father.

“We tend to be on the activist side,” noted Friedman, “and the issue came up that the Red Cross is not doing anythng. It’s not enough to talk and feel bad. It is clear to us that the Red Cross is not doing enough to help Jewish soldiers in captivity. Our goal is to try to push the issue, that they should live up to their mandate and show responsibility.”

Participating students shared their opinions on the issue as well.

“We want the Red Cross to visit Shalit,” said Julie Harush, a ninth grader at Shalhevet. “We hope the rally is successful.”

“It’s a disgrace that the Red Cross has done nothing for three years,” said HAFTR senior Gary Willig. “I’m hoping that the rally will change enough of those who work here, get publicity out to influence the organization. I hope we can accomplish something.  It would just make such a difference if his parents could meet with him once a month.  The Red Cross has to do their job.”

“I think it’s sad that it took three years for us to get together for Gilad Shalit,” noted Elana Schreier, a sophomore at SKA. “He is one of our brothers. The Red Cross has to realize how important this is. I can’t express how traumatizing this is to the parents. I hope this makes a difference.”

Retired IDF Major Ori Schecter, who helped coordinate the visit of 32 ninth graders from Sderot to New York, in conjuction with Machon Hatorah, addressed the crowd. Two Sderot students spoke as well, and one read a tefila (prayer).

“Hamas fired more than 7000 rockets at my city,” said Rotem of Sderot. “We saw the heroes coming home [after Operation Cast Lead], tired and victorious. I have to demand from you, free our captive; he was protecting me and all of you. Bring him home!”