Upcoming Events
Israel Action Committee
Congregation Beth Jacob has always been in the forefront of activities supporting Israel. The Israel Action Committee members strive to increase our community’s awareness of Israel’s struggle for peace and security and to facilitate pro-Israel activism in our community, media and government.
GILAD SHALIT
On the occasion of Gilad Shalit's birthday (August 28) we can make a
small but meaningful gesture to tell the world that he is not
forgotten, and to uphold the "international legitimacy" which is often
cited in vain by anti-Israel groups. Tell the International Red Cross
to fight for the right to visit Shalit, guaranteed to every prisoner of
war under the Geneva Convention.
Click here to sign a petition and show your support and join the Jewish Agency in writing to the American Red Cross, demanding his just treatment according to international humanitarian law.
Who is Gilad Shalit?
Gilad Shalit is an Israeli soldier who was captured on 25 June 2006 by Palestinian militants in a cross border raid from the Gaza Strip on the Kerem Shalom crossing (in Israel) and has been held hostage by Hamas since. Shalit is believed to be alive. Shalit, a soldier of the IDF's Armor Corps, held the rank of corporal at the time of the incident but has since been promoted to staff sergeant.
Shalit became the first Israeli soldier captured by militant Palestinian forces since Nachshon Wachsman in 1994. His abduction and the following cross border raid by Hezbollah, resulting in the abduction of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev into Lebanon, occurred prior to the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon during summer 2006. Shalit holds French citizenship, a fact that encouraged France and the European Union to be involved to some extent in the efforts to release him. Recently, he also received Italian citizenship. Hamas has barred the International Red Cross from seeing him, and has demanded the release of 450 Palestinian prisoners.