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| Julie Berman reads a meaningful message to the crowd. |
“Today is not about politics. Today is not about the complicated and complex situation in the Middle East. Today is not about who’s right and who’s wrong. Today is about one young man who has spent over four years without access to any international human rights organisation or any contact with his family.”
With those words Julie Berman, executive director of the SAZF (Cape Council), addressed a large and growing crowd outside parliament on Friday 16 July.
The vigil was organised by the SAZF in order to stand in solidarity with captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. To that date Shalit had been in captivity for 1482 days (35,568 hours).
SAZF (Cape Council) chairman Moonyeen Castle presented a letter to Mr Steve Govender, head of Corporate Services in Cape Town, for Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, asking for the SA government to use its considerable international influence to appeal to Hamas to abide by international humanitarian law and afford Gilad Shalit his rights to proper medical care and the right of communication with his family and the outside world. It asked for the immediate end to his inhumane treatment.
The vigil ended with a prayer by Rabbi Jonny Altman and the meaningful singing of Hatikvah by all those present.
May we all continue to speak up for Gilad, maintaining awareness and the hope for his safe return home.
