Senate echoes calls for Gilad Shalit’s freedom

UP-AND-COMING Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield made sure Australia’s Parliament did not forget about the plight of Gilad Shalit when it returned last week.

Senator Fifield, a Liberal who has been a keen supporter of Israel, told Parliament “Gilad Shalit must be freed”.

Asked by The AJN how he found the time during a busy opening week of Parliament to remember Shalit, the shadow minister for disabilities, carers and the volunteer sector replied it was a cause close to his heart.

“I have a longstanding interest in Israel, having visited the country three times.

“My support for the Israeli people and their right to defend themselves will continue and I look forward to the day we can celebrate Gilad Shalit’s freedom.”

The shadow minister explained that Shalit’s situation had become famous across the whole of Israel.

“Photographs of Gilad as a teenager appear on public walls and fly on flags from car antennas. His name is inscribed on bracelets worn by Israeli youth and the number of days of his captivity is publicly displayed near the Prime Minister’s residence.”

The senator also accused the international community of “passively” accepting Shalit’s captivity for too long.

Fifield, who is an advisory board member with Yachad Accelerated Learning Project, added there was no excuse for Hamas’ actions, considering Shalit and Israel were attacked from a territory the Jewish State does not occupy or claim.

“The State of Israel has the right to defend itself but, more than that, the Government of Israel has an obligation to protect its citizens and to fail to do so would be a dereliction of its duty. Australia has always stood by the people of Israel and I think always will, but ultimately it is because of soldiers like Gilad that the nation of Israel still stands.

NAOMI LEVIN