I’m interested and excited to learn that Noam Shalit – Gilad’s father – aims to stand as a Labor Party candidate in the next Knesset elections. “Following years of a public struggle, during which I got to know Israeli society thoroughly – both its beautiful and ethical sides – I have decided to join public life,” he said.
More power to him. Some of the most significant politicians in Israel’s history have entered politics following extremely challenging experiences. Natan Sharansky and Menachem Begin had been held by the Soviets. So had Yuli Edelstein. Benjamin Netanyahu lost his brother Yoni during Operation Entebbe.
None of these examples exactly match Noam’s, but they each have their similarities and they show that people who have faced some of life’s harshest challenges can offer much on the political stage. Best of luck, Noam, and thanks again for the grapes.
Meanwhile, in 10 days the Zionist Federation will deliver messages to IDF soldiers as part of the ‘Make a soldier smile’ campaign, set-up by Keren Hajioff, an IDF soldier from Finchley. So, if you want to make an Israeli soldier smile, please write a suitable message and email it to: office@zfuk.org
Follow me on Twitter
It’s a free country, but …
This news makes me feel used. For years I prayed intensely for the release of Gilad, and despite being against the actual deal, along with everyone else, I cried when he was released. The media presented the Shalits as a private family who wanted their son home, so that everyone could relate to this story in a personal way, not as some bloody left-wingers who wanted to bring the country to its knees, and weaken it further. I always thought that the Shalits were being manipulated by the media to further the left-wing agenda, now I feel manipulated by Noam Shalit.
Again, it’s a free country, but this is a really stupid move on his part. He could have been a symbol of national unity and used this position as a force for good in Israeli society, bridging between his secular background and the religious sector (millions of religious people were praying for Gilad). Instead, he’s joining a left wing party that is part of the leftist establishment (including media and courts and police) that sows discord in Israel (as evidenced by the latest campaign of incitement against religious people).
Thousands of people have been hurt by this deal. We all swallowed it to see Gilad walk free. Now, every time MK Shalit appears in the news, it is just going to add insult to their injury. My feeling is that this is not going to turn out well for him, and I hope that he has a change of heart. Earlier would be better for him than later.
Furthermore, after Gilad’s return Noam claimed that he just wanted to go back to his private life and requested privacy from the media. Well, that’s a promising start for a politician.
It’s too bad you can’t read the Hebrew talkbacks, Chas, because you would see that many people feel the way I do. There was something that united us all, something pure, just bring the angel Gilad home. We all put our differences aside for him and his family, and now he is using that support for his partisan aims. This is going to backfire for him and for Labour.
I understand how you feel.
From speaking on FB, email etc with friends in Israel I’m getting a sense of how many different – and strong – reactions there are in Israel.
Unfortunately, Chas, ‘From Israel’ has a point. I have read a lot of the comments and talk-backs in the Israeli papers and have to agree there are very strong feelings of people being cheated by Noam, especially when Noam Shalit announces he’s not going to use Gilad’s name for political purposes. I’m sorry Noam, but you already used him.
On the other hand, I believe Noam is a good person, who could contribute to Israeli politics, but in my opinion he should take at least a year off from being in the spotlight to be with his son and catch up on the five lost years instead of riding Gilad’s wave into the Israeli government. Then, maybe he would be accepted with open arms and less criticism into Israeli politics, which, frankly, needs more ordinary, honest people who really want to serve their country, as I believe Noam does.
On a separate note, what does everyone make of this water-throwing by MK Anastassia Michaeli? Very Sharon Osbourne, I thought! I met Anastassia Michaeli a few years ago. I couldn’t get over how glamorous she is!
Regardless of the circumstances (I believe she was provoked), politics and her beauty, completely unacceptable. She’s behaving as if she’s in a bar. And I agree that it’s racist, as she would not have dared do that to a Jew. She claimed that she was protecting women’s honour. Tosh. She makes women look bad, unstable, time of the month love. She’s probably going to get dropped by her party.
From the mouth of a rightwing feminist.
I adore you!
Gosh, it’s nice to be adored, but a bit sad that what I wrote is so noteworthy. Yet it is. It’s not easy believing in the Torah and the right of Jews to sovereignty over the whole of Eretz Yisrael and supporting women’s rights in full, and believing that women should dress and behave modestly, but out of free will, not coercion, when unfortunately there are too many knee-jerk reactions across the spectrum.
And by the way there is a Jewish saying, “derech eretz kadma leTorah”: manners precede the Torah, meaning first of all be a mensch, then keep mitzvot.
Another thing is that during the terrible ordeal the Shalits went through they were treated with kid gloves by everyone, even though they were (understandably maybe) completely selfish, including making callous comments about the victims of terror. They were only concerned with their goal and not with the public good. Furthermore they treated the Israeli government as if it were the enemy, rather than Hamas and co. I fail to see how any of this makes Noam Shalit suitable for public office.
The kid gloves are now off.
I’m very sorry, but speaking as a mum, I would also be rather selfish trying to get my kid home after years in captivity, sitting in some dark hole God knows where.
It doesn’t excuse all his comments, but it certainly shows that he is HUMAN.
You completely missed my point. As an individual his single-mindedness may have been understandable. My point is that his focus on his own life and his indifference to the public good and even callousness to bereaved families makes him unsuitable for public office.
And guess who is on the headlines for ynet and walla, none other than Gilad. This is sickening.
and btw an article for you Chas
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=253063
Thanks for the article – v interesting.
Why are you sickened that Gilad was mentioned on Ynet and Walla?
Two days ago Shalit the elder announces that he is entering the fray, and suddenly Gilad is in the headlines. Please don’t tell me that this is a coincidence.
I hope Gilad is okay, I’d hate for him to be used. I’m not saying that is what is happening – just that I hope it is not.
One would have thought that after all this time and all his efforts he would want to spend a lot of time just being with his son, and being there for him. Gilad is going to need a lot of support for a long time. But less three months after the release he wants to run for office. You don’t find this strange? He himself mentioned something strange like, there was a window of opportunity which may not exist in a year or two. Remember he has a team of big shot PR people advising his every move. He was probably told to capitalise on his big win now, because in two years people will have forgotten him and he will be a nobody. If he truly wanted to “give back” there are a myriad of ways of doing this, how about volunteering with terror victims for starters. I think that most people will be able to differentiate between the father and the son, and not hold this against Gilad, but it is very sad and foolish that he is doing this to his son.
I think we can call him Abu Gilad from now on.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=1172
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4174501,00.html
‘From Israel’ – so, you disapprove of Noam Shalit entering politics. You then contemptuously class him as Arab, by use of the phrase ‘Abu Gilad’ (father of Gilad – traditional term of respect in Arab society to refer to a man not by name, but as the father of his son). In your eyes, therefore, someone with whom you disagree can be derided by being referred to ‘from now on’ as an Arab. How revealing of your own prejudice and, sadly, how illustrative of mainstream Israeli racism.
Leila, Shalit is only able to enter politics because he is famous and he is only famous because of his son. So I called him after his son. Maybe there are other cultures that do this, the only one I am aware of is the Arab culture. I’m not justifying racism at all, but Israel is no more racist than almost anywhere else, and much less than other places. People nearly everywhere are racist against another group. If you do not know this you must be white and have no minority friends, because otherwise you would be aware of the racism they have to endure on an on-going basis. I can say this for England, France, Japan, Thailand, America. All countries I have lived in and am familiar with the culture. Seems to me your comment is revealing of your own prejudice about Israel.
One person writes a comment you don’t like and you use that to tar all of Israel, with the slur of racism.
and yet another angle
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11119#.TxK50qU9X50
I feel the same way as “From Israel” and others here. I was veer much split on the decision to erlease so many murderers for Gilad, yet I was so proud of Israel on the actual day of release. But now i too feel that Noam Shalit has been, if not actually using us, taking advantage of our better nature. I feel almost personally insulted.
Meir Schijveschuurder, who lost his parents and 3 siblings in the Sbarro bombing of 2001, whose murderer was released in the Shalit exchange, has written a searing letter to Noam Shalit excoriating him for his actions. It is a very bitter read but so understandable. See the Muqata for more.
I’ll translate the letter in a few minutes.
Here is the translation of Meir Schijveschuurder’s letter in Maariv:
“Noam Shalit,
There are things that should not have to be done and letters should not have to be written. This letter is one of them. But apparently the fact is they do, for we humans do not control everything. Some things happen by themselves without control, and we need to live with the results. You did not choose the reality in which you found yourself the past five years, and your fight during this period was a war of no choice which, in the end you won.
Now that Gilad is back home, you have chosen your own way with a clear mind. We get the impression from your choice that you are drunk with power, a kind of feeling of euphoria which is expressed by the arrogance and insensitivity that you demonstrate to the suffering of thousands of civilians who sacrificed their freedom and right to live a life of security, in the country that was unable to save their relatives and their limbs and enter lives.
These remnants of human beings have been brutally slammed into an endless reality of bereavement, grief and survival. Exactly like Gilad did not choose to be captured by Hamas, so thousands of civilians and soldiers did not choose to die by the murderers, brutes, who have not been punished.
You, Noam, shouted and pleaded upon every possible platform that the State of Israel and Israeli society should sacrifice for your son. You spoke in the name of the value of “friendship”, you asked that we, the public, should all give in and sacrifice, whether by actions or whether by having their life as a Jewish citizen of the Middle East made less safe today.
You must remember your struggle against the publication of the Shamgar Commission findings, resounding conclusions which effectively held that a transaction which freed hundreds of bloodthirsty murderers is cruel and dangerous and formed an invitation for the next abduction. You knew about these conclusions but did not share them with the public.
You led your struggle via your own prism; that’s okay, it is understandable and even correct. The people of Israel in the main (though it is important to note that it was not everyone, and in any case this is not measurable) enlisted for you and Gilad. Donations were submitted, meals were cooked, feet marched, banners were hoisted, political opinions were been moved aside, and thus a private case, difficult and human became public property.
Gilad returned home.
I live in a country that did not keep my parents and my brothers alive, a country which also did not keep the promise of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the brutes who were caught (while risking the lives of soldiers and ISA agents) will never be released. These killers are now enjoying the best pleasures of the world. This is the unacceptable and impossible reality. Your presence is too much for us.
When I see Abbas meet with the murderers at a cocktail party, my insides churn and another day goes down the drain. Think of a rape victim, maybe that way there you can somehow connect.
Your public life, Noam, can and should come through repaying a debt back to Israeli society which has sacrificed so much for you. Yes, sacrificed, and yes, for you.
We are talking about a huge debt to the citizens of Israel, and especially to the victims of terrorism. You can repay it, and it is fitting that you should do so in a way different from the way you selected. For example go to your local branch of the National Insurance Institute and volunteer there, help and assist both the injured and bereaved families who need volunteers to help them heal the wounds.
Your presence on my television screen and newspaper pages is unnecessary for us. The price we paid for your son is a price to great to bear.. Perhaps during your struggle you lost your sensitivity to this price, but you should know that every day that passes that a killer or a murderer, whose hands are dripping with the blood of my family, travels amongst world leaders instead of rotting in prison, any such day is a black day for us.
Your presence will always remind us of the price we paid and we do not need this reminder. Since your announcement that you are entering politics I saw people shift uneasily. The word cynicism, in all its parsings, can be heard everywhere, but truth must be told: this is not cynicism but incredible cruelty. Both for us and for Gilad who returned back home and whose rehabilitation stands above all. You begged for his return to be your own child once more, and here he returns to a public and impossible life.
Do me a favor – go back to being the private father that you once were. “