Will the Media Remember Gilad Shalit? [Kidnapped Israeli Soldier]

HonestReporting ^ | Wednesday, June 23, 2010 | HonestReporting Staff

[Star Traveler]

Will the Media Remember Gilad Shalit?

COMMUNIQUE: 23 June 2010

After 4 years in Hamas captivity, make sure that the mainstream media doesn't forget the tragic plight of the kidnapped Israeli soldier.

This Friday marks the fourth anniversary of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit's kidnapping and incarceration by Hamas in Gaza. Israel has, during this period, allowed tonnes of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza and has now relaxed restrictions on the transfer of goods. Shalit has not even been allowed a visit by the Red Cross.

Gilad Shalit's welfare is a central part of the story surrounding Israel's policies towards the Hamas controlled Gaza Strip. Yet, in the media frenzy following the recent flotilla incident and the subsequent international pressure on Israel to reassess its Gaza policies, the fate of Shalit has, to a large extent, been overlooked by the mainstream media.

Of the Gaza staff-eds in this week's papers, neither the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, nor The Guardian mentioned Shalit at all. The Irish Times and an otherwise positive piece in the Globe & Mail only mentioned the 27-year-old staff sergeant in passing while the LA Times showed some concern calling on Hamas to release him.

Please keep an eye on your local media. If it fails to mention Gilad Shalit or focuses only on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, send a letter to the editor. Contact details for many major media outlets can be found here.

Take Action for Gilad Shalit

You can also join the StandWithUs campaign for Gilad Shalit:

1. Please send a letter to the International Committee of the Red Cross; Amnesty International; and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to urge them to demand the release of Gilad Shalit and, at the very least, demand that Hamas allow Gilad Shalit to receive proper medical attention and contact from his family in Israel. For a sample letter, please click here. Help us reach our goal of 5,000 letters to the ICRC, the UN and Amnesty International.

• Change your Facebook profile picture and status. Click here for some picture ideas.

• Talk about bringing home Gilad Shalit in your communities, synagogues, churches, etc. Click here to watch the video of Gilad Shalit's message from Hamas's captivity.

[Star Traveler]

Just think what an uproar it would have been, if some Christians had kidnapped some Muslim soldier ... hoo-boy!

[manc]

and what of the American soldier who was took by the taliban , so what is this Govt doing and why is the media ignoring that?

YOU MEDIA MAKE ME SICK

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

bump

[Eagles6]

Very surprised that he was still alive. Prayers for him and his loved ones.

[GVnana]

You can bet the Israelis will never forget.

[doc1019]

I think this tread is about the Israeli soldier that was “took” ...

[manc]

I know but it still pisses me off that over here our boys have been taken and nothing from our corrupted media and Govt while the Israeli’s do not forget and good for them, they should not and have not.

[BigFinn]

Forget the media... millions of Christians are praying for his release.

[Sherman Logan]

I’ve always thought the terminology used to describe this is odd.

Shalit is a soldier captured by the enemy, albeit not an enemy that makes any attempt to abide by the laws of war.

Wouldn’t it make more sense to refer to him as captured, rather than kidnapped, which would more appropriately apply to a civilian being held prisoner?

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

I’ve always thought the terminology used to describe this is odd.

Shalit is a soldier captured by the enemy, albeit not an enemy that makes any attempt to abide by the laws of war.

Well, actually the terminology is quite appropriated on several levels of thinking.

Let me take one level. There are many in the world that try to put the terrorists on the "moral equivalency" basis with the Israelis. The Israelis reject that type of thinking as should anyone else. However, the news media plays right down the line of that "moral equivalency between the Israelis and their defense of the country and the Islamic terrorists. The bottom line is that there is no moral equivalency here.

And then another level of thinking is (and maybe some might think it's the same thing, but it's not quite) -- it's that there's not a "technical equivalency" here (not talking moral equivalency). Technically you're got an organized military, who has soldiers recognized as being in a country's military branch, and they are carrying out legal and lawful orders from that country.

On the other hand, you've got some kind of "organization" (not even a "military") under no government (not officially recognized), no land (except what they can steal from someone else), no officials (except something like an underground mafia-type structure -- nothing recognized anywhere in the world, except perhaps recognized in the MSM and a couple of other terrorist supporting nations ... LOL ...

It would be like some group of white supremicists, out in the back hills, calling themselves by some military name, and "capturing" a U.S. soldier doing his duties as a soldier -- and expecting all of us to recognize what this "White Surpremicist group" did -- was actually a "military operation" and the soldier is now a "prisoner of war" ... LOL ...

Sorry, that's just not going to fly ... :-)

That's not a "captured soldier" that's a "kidnapped soldier" -- kidnapped by an "organization" that is more akin to some underground mafia/criminal group ...

[Joe Boucher]

Or the uproar if Christians started kidnapping moosies and slitting their throats?

[SunkenCiv]

• Shalit family, neighbors hope for best [Please Pray for Captured IDF soldier!]
• Peretz: No decision to delay outpost evacuation
• Rice urges diplomacy over Israeli hostage in Gaza [Nauseating news.]
• Shy boy whose fate could change history
• Report: Gilad Shalit is alive, in good condition
• Egypt to Hamas: Sunday Morning Deadline
• Israel Attacks Palestinian Leader's HQ
• Soldier's captors give Israel ultimatum
• Our World: From Yoni To Gilad (Caroline Glick On The 30th Anniversary Of Entebbe Raid Alert)
• Israel warns of "long war" over soldier
• Anti-Israel protest FRIDAY July 7 -- WE ARE COUNTER-PROTESTING! YOU ARE NEEDED IN L.A.
• Poll: Majority of Palestinians back kidnappings, Qassam fire
• Rally Report: Palestinian, Israeli Backers Stage L.A. Rallies over Gaza Fighting
• 8/5 Middle East Live Thread
• Officials: U.S., France reach Mideast resolution (US Appeasement?)
• 'Sign of life from Gilad Shalit'
• Report: Shalit to Be Released Sunday (According to the London-based Arabic newspaper)
• Saudi newspaper: Shalit's release to be announced Sunday in context of deal
• Israeli-Palestinian prisoners swap 'imminent' -- Saudi paper
• Egypt: Hamas rejects offer for Shalit
• Thousands pray for kidnapped soldiers at Western Wall [Your Prayers Needed Too!]
• PRC: Israel won't get Shalit by force
• Min. Ben-Eliezer: Israel accepts Egypt's plans for Shalit's release
• Report Says Iran Paid Hamas Not to Free Abducted Israeli Soldier
• Haniyeh advisor says prisoner deal for Shalit is close
• Defense Ministry Confirms: Terrorists to Go Free in Deal for Shalit
• Palestinians differ over end to hostage crisis
• UN Commissioner refuses to meet [Israeli] captives' families
• Report: Israel Soldier May Be Freed Soon
• Minister: Free prisoners despite Shalit [Olmert hits bottom, digs]
• Israel won't free Palestinian prisoners
• Palestinian media: PM, Mubarak to announce Shalit deal Thurs.
• Hamas ready to swap video of Gilad Shalit for prisoners
• Livni: We expect Shalit freed before new PA gov't
• Glasses for Shalit 'bad trap' [Hamas denies access to Red Cross]
• Abbas says deal may be near to free Israeli soldier
• For Israel's sons, no reunion, no cameras, no joy
• PA (Palestinian Authority) pays benefits to Schalit captors' families
• Captured Israeli 'alive and well' (Shalit)
• Hamas airs first (Gilad) 'Shalit message' [Israeli soldier kidnapped 25/06/06]
• Hamas official: Release of tape act of goodwill [PUKE YOUR GUTS OUT]
• IDF ready to free Shalit by force, officer says
• Free Gilad Shalit, Now!! Swap PM Olmert for him
• Hamas man involved in Shalit kidnapping arrested
• Girls Gone Mild
• Report: IDF kidnaps senior Hamas official
• Israel Snatches Hamas Leader Responsible For Kidnapping Of Gilad Shalit
• Hamas: Stop Gaza Attacks or Shalit's Fate Will Be Like Ron Arad
• IDF Air Strike Kills Shalit Kidnapper
• Hamas says Israeli soldier won't be part of any truce
• IAF Pilots Kill Army of Islam Commander, Shalit Kidnappers
• Netanyahu:Hamas got a gift from Olmert
• Not a personal affair (Israeli Pows)
• Hamas: Lebanon swap raises price for Shalit
• Capitulation isn't an option
• 'Cruel' Shalit Stunt At Gaza Celebration
• The So-Callled International Community (Google For International Condemnations Of Hamas Alert)
• IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT THE HAMAS OFFICER WAS KILLED...
• Attacks on Be'er Sheva Continue (2nd round post ceasefire)
• Olmert asks Eitan to join team working to secure Schalit's release
• Fatah Fears Hamas Election Landslide In Wake of Shalit Release
• Olmert: No Gaza truce without Shalit
• France: Gilad Shalit Should Rot in Hamas Prison
• Congresswoman to Clinton: Hamas Must Free IDF Soldier
• NGO Watchdog: Human Rights Groups Silent on Shalit
• Israeli Dad Blames Olmert Over Failure to Free Son
• Can Israel Still Be Saved?
• 'Red Cross seeking access to Schalit'
• Hamas murals depict abducted IDF soldier Shalit in 30 years
• Elena Bonner [Sakharov's wife] speaks on Israel at the Oslo Freedom Forum
• Six Missing Israeli Soldiers
• Tweets for Gilad Shalit
• Human Rights Watch Demands Hamas Allow Captive Soldier Gilad Shalit to Speak
• Shalit Timeline: Broken Government Promises and Zig-Zags
• Europeans: Gilad Shalit transfer to Egypt imminent
• Rome grants Shalit honorary citizenship
• 18th Israel Maccabiah Opening Ceremony Celebrates Life, Welcomes Jewish Athletes Home
• Gilad Shalit's Sister to Enlist in IDF
• VIDEO of Gilad Schalit- He is Alive and Well
• Explaining Terrorism to a Nobel Laureate
• Hamas sources claim deal to free Schalit could be days away
• Report Gilad Shalit MAY Be Home by Friday
• Hamas: 1 Israel Soldier Equals 1,000 Soldiers From Palestine
• (Time Mag's) Joe Klein Caught Making Things Up
• Al-Aqsa TV Vilifies Palestinian Authority: PA Security Forces Help Stereotypical Blood-Drinking Jews
• Hamas founder's son worked for Shin Bet for years
• Israel strikes in Gaza after deadly rocket (reports of gunfire as well)
• Hillary's AIPAC Speech (Advance Text)
• Netanyahu's father discusses the peace process (part I, II, & III)
• Netanyahu at ceremony for terror victims: Their only sin was living in Israel
• Hamas releases cartoon about captured Israeli
• Netanyahu: Shalit animation shows true nature of Hamas
• A Well-Coordinated Attack
• Background on Flotilla Incident
• Speculation rife over identity of Israel's prisoner 'Mr X'
• Gilad Shalit Captive Four Years
• Rights Group Criticizes Hamas Treatment of Israeli
• PLEASE PRAY FOR GILAD SHALIT AND MOSAB HASAN YOUSEF
• Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem (6/26/10) [Prayer]

[Star Traveler]

You were saying ...

Or the uproar if Christians started kidnapping moosies and slitting their throats?

Yeah, you're right. If one wants to undestand the "double standard" here ... which is quite egregious -- just "flip things around" and see how it sounds to your ears. That's how you can tell there's a double standard in existence.

[Joe Boucher]

Thing that bothers me is we hear of the “moderate
moosies.
Ya sure don’t hear too much from the “moderates” condeming this kind of stuff.
So one wonders if they aren’t cowed by their crazies or do they secretly back the crazies?