Conservative Friends of Israel

Supporting Israel and Promoting Conservatism

CAMPAIGNS

Free Gilad Shalit

In June 2006, Israeli Corporal, Gilad Shalit was kidnapped from inside Israel in a cross border attack. After spending 1,940 days in Hamas captivity, on Octber 18 2011 he was finally released into Israeli custody, in a prisoner exchange deal that saw the release of over 1000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli Jails.

 

Commenting on the release of Israeli Sergeant Gilad Shalit, the Prime Minister said:
 
“I know that people across Britain will share in the joy and relief felt by Gilad Shalit and his family today. I can only imagine the heartache of the last five years, and I am full of admiration for the courage and fortitude which Sergeant Shalit and his family have shown through his long cruel and unjustified captivity. I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu and everyone involved for bringing him home safely, and hope this prisoner exchange will bring peace a step closer.
“Britain will continue to stand by Israel in defeating terrorism. We remain strongly committed to the cause of peace in the Middle East – with Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in security. We will continue to work for direct negotiations to achieve that end.”
 
Parliamentary Chairman of CFI, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP said:
 
 
“Captured in a cross border attack from inside Israel and imprisoned for over 1000 days the release of Sergeant Gilad Shalit has been a very long time coming. It is impossible to imagine the hardship and suffering that has been endured, but throughout, Gilad and the Shalit family have shown resilience, strength and astonishing determination
 
“I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu. Like every good Prime Minister he listened to what the people wanted and he made the tough decisions. He did the right thing.
 
“We must however not confuse this victory for humanity as a victory for Hamas. As Israel and the Palestinians continue to work towards peace and two states for two peoples it remains as clear as ever that Hamas cannot play a part in this process with their ideology intact. The UK must continue to ensure that the Quartet Principles are upheld and re-enforced.”
 
 
 
Since his capture in 2006, Conservative Friends of Israel have been actively campaigning for the release of Gilad Shalit, within the Conservative Party. Last year over 1000 people, including 60 MPs and other Parliamentarians signed the CFI petition below, which was presented to the Foreign Secretary, William Hague at Conservative Party Conference 2010.
 
FREE GILAD SHALIT 
PETITION
We the undersigned call for the immediate release of Corporal Gilad Shalit. On June 25 2006, Shalit was abducted by Hamas militants in a pre-meditated cross-border terrorist attack inside Israel. Captured at the age of 19, the young solider has been held in isolation ever since and is neither permitted to send or receive messages from his family.
Shalit’s detention is a serious violation of international humanitarian laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war, as enshrined by the Third Geneva Convention. Throughout his captivity Shalit has been denied the most basic of rights. This cruel and inhumane treatment is a blatant and direct contravention of the Third Geneva Convention.
We, insist that Hamas immediately release Gilad Shalit, and before it does so, afford him the right of communication with his family and unfettered access for the International Committee of the Red Cross to ensure his well-being.

CFI was delighted that over 60 MPs signed the petition.

David Amess MP                               Simon Kirby MP                     Julian Sturdy MP
Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP              Kwasi Kwarteng MP             Desmond Swayne MP
Bob Blackman MP                             Cllr Andrea Leadsom MP        Paul Uppal MP
Nick Boles MP                                    Jack Lopresti MP                     Theresa Villiers MP
Graham Brady MP                              Jonathan Lord MP                   Angela Watkinson MP
Steve Brine MP                                   Paul Maynard MP                    James Wharton MP
Conor Burns MP                                 Jason McCartney MP             Heather Wheeler MP
Douglas Carswell MP                        Stephen Metcalfe MP            Craig Whittaker MP
Rehman Chishti MP                           Nicky Morgan MP                   Nadhim Zahawi MP
James Clappison MP                         Sheryll Murray MP
Therese Coffey MP                            Brooks Newmark MP
Stephen Crabb MP                             Caroline Nokes MP
Jonathon Djanogly MP                      Steve O’Brien MP
Michael Ellis MP                                 Matthew Offord MP   
Jane Ellison MP                                   Guy Opperman MP
Tobias Ellwood MP                            Neil Parish MP
Jonathan Evans MP                           Priti Patel MP
Mike Freer MP                                    Christopher Pincher MP
Lorraine Fullbrook MP                       Daniel Poulter MP
Robert Halfon MP                              Mark Pritchard MP
Mark Harper MP                                 Dominic Raab MP
Greg Hands MP                                  Andrew Rosindell MP
Richard Harrington MP                     Amber Rudd MP
Gordon Henderson MP                     Lee Scott MP
Margot James MP                              Chloe Smith MP
Gareth Johnson MP                           Iain Stewart MP

CFI were also pleased that a number of House of Lords members add support, in addition to 4 MEPs and a member of the Welsh Assembly. 

Baroness Deetch
Baroness Noakes
Lord Roberts of Conway PC
Lady SheikhDaniel Hannan MEP
Timothy Kirkhope MEP
Charles Tannock MEP
Geoffrey Van Orden MEP
Darren Miller AM