Shalit Family, Demonstrators, Maintain Vigil Outside Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem

A photo essay

March 17, 2009

by Daniel E. Levenson

JERUSALEM- It has been nearly three years since Corporal Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists and the people of Israel and the Israeli government are still clearly concerned about getting him back alive.

A group of Israeli Arabs visits the Shalit family tent outside the Prime Minister's residence, in order to show their support for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit and his family.

Here in Israel though, the response to a proposed prisoner swap between Israel and the Palestinians has drawn a strong reaction from families of terror victims, who are deeply concerned about the possibility of convicted terrorists being released from Israeli jails.

A sign above the tent counts the number of days Corporal Shalit has been held in captivity.

An artist captures the scene on canvas outside the Shalit tent.

On Ramban Street, near the Prime Minister’s residence, the family of Gilad Shalit has set up a tent where they have been trying to focus the spotlight of the media as well as get the attention of ordinary Israelis and the Prime Minister himself, as they work to get the Israeli government to take decisive action to bring their son back home.

Across the road there is another tent set up where visitors can see photographs and displays relating to Israeli terror victims.

Across from the Shalit family tent a group of people opposed to the release of convicted terrorists in exchange for Shalit displayed posters and photographs depicting the aftermath of terrorist attacks in Israel.

The point of this display, Yossi Zur, one of the organizers of the display, told me, is to protest the release of convicted Palestinian terrorists. Mr. Zur, who lost his 16-year old son, Asaf, in a March, 2003 bus bombing in Haifa, explained that they are supportive of the Shalit family and definitely want to see Gilad Shalit back in Israel, but they are gravely concerned that by making the proposed prisoner swap, many other lives will be put in danger. “We are for the release of Gilad Shalit,” Zur said, “but against the release of terrorists.”

Yossi Zur, a software engineer from Haifa, stands beside a sign calling on the government not to release convicted terrorists in exchange for Corporal Shalit. Mr. Zur's 16 year-old son Assaf was killed in a bus bombing in Haifa in March, 2003.

Speaking of the convicted terrorists who might gain their freedom in exchange for Shalit, Mr. Zur commented “I know that they will return to the way of terror, and I know that more Israelis will be killed.”

A poster showing the faces of vicitms of Palestinian terror in Israel.

All text and images copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2009