"My thoughts are with Gilad and his family, who have lived through two years of horror," PM Brown says.
By JONNY PAUL, JPOST CORRESPONDENT IN LONDONBetancourt schalit 224ap(photo credit: AP)
Intense efforts to raise awareness of the plight of Gilad Schalit in the UK comes to fruition on Sunday with a march through central London and a campaign to send Rosh Hashana cards to the abducted soldier.
On the UN's international day of peace, thousands are expected to honor Schalit with a short march sending the message that his captivity in Gaza violates human rights. The event will end at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, near Piccadilly Circus, where Noam Schalit, Gilad's father, Ron Prosor, Israel's ambassador to the UK, and others will address participants. There was also be a performance from Israeli singer Ehud Banai.
Each marcher will receive a T-Shirt with Schalit's face printed on it.
"This will be the biggest show of support for Gilad outside Israel," said Tamar Pross, one of the organizers. "For a few hours, Gilad will no longer be the loneliest man in the world. I hope everyone joins us."
"Walking for Gilad, Walking for Freedom" was the brainchild of a group of young professionals Londoners who felt it imperative to heighten public awareness of Schalit's condition and to "bring the current diplomatic efforts to free him to a successful conclusion."
"We came together with a common understanding that his situation is a crime against humanity and we felt it our obligation to raise awareness," Pross told The Jerusalem Post. "He should not be the tool to negotiate on political issues. With no knowledge disseminated about his condition, we felt it essential to educate people about his plight and spread the message using London as the platform."
"It really warms my heart to see how the Jewish and Israeli communities in the UK are mobilizing to strengthen the heart of Gilad's parents in the hope that their son will return home soon," Prosor told the Post. "Hundreds of letter of love and support have been sent to the embassy in the last week, which I've presented to Noam and Aviva Schalit. In addition, I hugely appreciate the words of support and solidarity expressed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, as well as many other friends in the British Parliament who all hope for his swift release."
The leaders of Britain's major political parties gave their support to the Rosh Hashana cards, the idea of Zionist Federation member Rona Hart and supported by Jewish News, a free London weekly newspaper.
"My thoughts are with Gilad Schalit and his family, who have lived through two years of horror," Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Jewish News. "The cease-fire in Gaza offers an opportunity for his release along with a resolution to other outstanding issues that will improve the daily lives of Palestinians in Gaza and Israelis alike."
"As Jewish communities around the world reflect on 5768 and look ahead to 5769, we all hope and pray for the speedy return of Gilad Schalit to his family and friends, Conservative Party leader David Cameron said. "Signing a card will not only hopefully show Gilad himself the support that exists for him in this country and beyond, but will provide immense comfort to the Schalit family at this important time in the Jewish calendar."
Liberal Democrat Party leader Nick Clegg said his thoughts were with Schalit and others who had "unfairly suffered" as a result of the wider conflict in the Middle East.
"I send Rosh Hashana greetings to Gilad and share the hope that he will be released back to his family very soon," Clegg said.
Thousands of cards have been collected in the past week by Jewish News, with many more sent to the Israeli Embassy. The cards will be delivered to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Tel Aviv with the request that they use their contacts in Gaza to deliver the cards to Schalit.
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