'If ministers don't want to see 'V' signs, go to Florida'

Noam Schalit says that deal for his son's release would not have happened without his family's actions to put pressure on the government.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Noam Schalit 311 R (photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
Noam Schalit 311 R
(photo credit: REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
Father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, Noam, said Wednesday that any government ministers that don't want to see victory signs and burning Israeli flags in the Middle East following the release of his son "can find a nice place in Switzerland or Florida," discussing what may happen the day after Gilad is released with Army Radio.
A deal struck between Israel and Hamas was announced Tuesday that would see Gilad Schalit released in exchange for over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, including a number of terrorists.
RELATED:Aviva Schalit: 'Our joy is indescribable' The Schalit deal: 1,027 prisoners to be freed in 2 stages
Noam said that he cannot relate to those government ministers that voted against the deal to release his son. He asked where MK Uzi Landau was during the family's push to have special privileges revoked for Hamas prisoners. "We didn't see any actions from them in the past," he added.
Asked if he has any information whether Gilad is aware of his impending release, Noam said that he has received no official updates on the matter.
"The whole deal was concluded under the premise that Giald will return home healthy and in one piece," the soldier's father said. "We hope that's how it will be."
The family, he said, will soon be heading back to their hometown of Mitzpe Hila after spending years in a protest tent in Jerusalem. "The protest has served its purpose."
Noam also related the importance of his relationship with the family of captured IAF pilot Ron Arad. "Yesterday in Ramat Aviv," he said, "there was a ceremony marking 25 years since the capture of [Arad]."
"We learned a lot from the experiences and mistakes made by the Arad family," Noam said.
"What is certain is that we wouldn't have reached this moment today, after so many years, without our activities" protesting and pressuring the government for the release of Gilad.
Click for full JPost coverage
Click for full JPost coverage