World Jewish Congress Leadership Rallies for Release of Gilad Shalit, Meets with Red Cross Representatives

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- World Jewish Congress, North America, in cooperation with the International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, held a rally in front of the offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to urge increased efforts to achieve the release of Gilad Shalit who has been held captive in the hands of Hamas since the summer of 2006. Evelyn Sommer, Chair, World Jewish Congress, North America, addressed the rally and urged the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, and all human rights groups to not neglect the plight of Gilad Shalit who has been suffering at the hands of Hamas for more than four years. Sommer said, "It is the responsibility of the international human rights community to urgently intervene on behalf of Gilad Shalit whose condition and whereabouts are not known and who continues to suffer at the hands of a terrorist organization. We urge the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations, and all the human rights organizations on this International Human Rights Day to do their utmost to multiply their efforts and to secure the release of Gilad Shalit now."

Betty Ehrenberg, Executive Director, World Jewish Congress, North America, together with leaders of the American Association for Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, and leaders of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Hadassah, and Stand With Us, met with Pierre Dorbes, United Nations representative to the ICRC, to deliver a letter to the ICRC president Jakob Kellenberger. The letter reiterated our collective call to the Red Cross, the premier moral voice in the pantheon of human rights organizations, to mobilize its considerable energy, resources, and international contacts to secure the release of Gilad Shalit. Betty Ehrenberg said, "Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive by the terrorist organization, Hamas, must be returned to the safety and security of his family immediately. The World Jewish Congress together with all its member organizations and affiliated Jewish communities will continue tirelessly to work to secure freedom for Gilad Shalit."

The rally was co-sponsored by many member organizations of WJC-United States, including B'nai B'rith International, Bnai Zion Foundation, Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbinical Council of America, Union for Reform Judaism, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and WIZO USA, and many other important organizations.

SOURCE World Jewish Congress