Dems Call for Shalit’s Release

Matthew Green — June 25, 2010 – 2:23 pm | Congress | Democrats | Israel | Terrorism Comments (0) Add a comment

As Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit enters his fifth year of captivity, Democrats have spoken out and called on Hamas for his release.

The Obama administration recently issued this statement:

As we approach the fourth anniversary of the capture of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, we call again for his immediate release, and condemn the inhumane conditions of his detention.

Additionally, under the leadership of Gary Ackerman (D-NY), U.S. House of Representatives just passed a resolution to officially demand Shalit’s release. Before the House, Ackerman said:

Gilad Shalit is not an American. He’s an Israeli soldier who has been held captive by Hamas for four years. His parents are not Americans. I don’t know the he’s ever even been to the United States. But nevertheless, I would contend that he is one of us. Why? Simply because he is a soldier serving in the army of a fellow democracy - a long-standing ally that is fighting a war of survival against an Iranian-backed radical Islamic terrorist organization explicitly committed to the destruction of the Jewish State and the annihilation of the all Jews in Israel.

Others in the Obama Administration have kept Shalit in their thoughts and prayers.

Before the American Jewish Committee, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said:

Now Hamas has circulated a hateful video mocking the family of Gilad Shalit. It is cruel and it is an outrage. And in the face of this inhumanity, we say again, as we have many times before: Gilad Shalit must be released immediately and returned to his family.

Vice President Joe Biden also articulated support for the young Israeli soldier:

Gilad Shalit is still in captivity and we pray every day for the day when he will come home and be reunited with his family.

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