6 aug 2018
Leah Goldin
PM's wife reportedly called Leah Goldin two years ago, complaining that they invited Minister Ayelet Shaked to memorial for their son, fallen soldier Hadar Goldin; 'Your ties to my husband's rivals could hurt the efforts the PM invests in the issue,' Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly said; Netanyahu family denies report.
Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, has reportedly called Leah Goldin, whose son IDF officer Hadar Goldin was killed during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge and captured by Hamas, accusing the family of being "ungrateful," according to Channel Ten News.
In a phone call two years ago, Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly told the bereaved mother that she did not approve of the fact the family invited Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to a memorial service for Hadar at the Kfar Saba cemetery.
"Your ties to my husband's rivals could hurt the efforts the prime minister invests in the issue," Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly said.
When the call was over, Leah Goldin returned to her guests—friends and bereaved parents who lost their loved ones during Protective Edge. The guests got the impression the mother was distraught by the conversation with Mrs. Netanyahu.
A spokesman for the Netanyahu family rejected the report out of hand. "This never happened. Such a call never took place. Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul are in the hearts of Sara Netanyahu and the prime minister, and any statement to the contrary is wrong and does not reflect the connection created with the family," the spokesman said on behalf of the Netanyahu family.
The report joins claims made Sunday by Zehava Shaul, whose son fallen soldier Oron Shaul suffered a similar fate to Goldin. Shaul said she had lost faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he called her and her late husband Herzl "liars."
"Some two months before my husband's death, we met with Prime Minister Netanyahu who yelled at us and hurled accusations at us. He called us liars," Shaul said. "Until that meeting, Herzl had full confidence in the system and believed the promises made by the prime minister. This meeting was the straw that broke the camel's back."
The Prime Minister's Office denied Shaul's claims, saying "Prime Minister Netanyahu has never yelled at bereaved families or hurled accusations at them, the same is true for the Shaul family. The prime minister will continue making every effort until the sons return home."
In comments later in the day, Mrs. Shaul doubled down on her accusation, insisting that “Everything I said is true. And it is OK that he (Netanyahu) believes that what he is saying is true. You can ask the Goldin family as well, they were with us at the private meeting.”
PM's wife reportedly called Leah Goldin two years ago, complaining that they invited Minister Ayelet Shaked to memorial for their son, fallen soldier Hadar Goldin; 'Your ties to my husband's rivals could hurt the efforts the PM invests in the issue,' Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly said; Netanyahu family denies report.
Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister's wife, has reportedly called Leah Goldin, whose son IDF officer Hadar Goldin was killed during the 2014 Operation Protective Edge and captured by Hamas, accusing the family of being "ungrateful," according to Channel Ten News.
In a phone call two years ago, Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly told the bereaved mother that she did not approve of the fact the family invited Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to a memorial service for Hadar at the Kfar Saba cemetery.
"Your ties to my husband's rivals could hurt the efforts the prime minister invests in the issue," Mrs. Netanyahu reportedly said.
When the call was over, Leah Goldin returned to her guests—friends and bereaved parents who lost their loved ones during Protective Edge. The guests got the impression the mother was distraught by the conversation with Mrs. Netanyahu.
A spokesman for the Netanyahu family rejected the report out of hand. "This never happened. Such a call never took place. Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul are in the hearts of Sara Netanyahu and the prime minister, and any statement to the contrary is wrong and does not reflect the connection created with the family," the spokesman said on behalf of the Netanyahu family.
The report joins claims made Sunday by Zehava Shaul, whose son fallen soldier Oron Shaul suffered a similar fate to Goldin. Shaul said she had lost faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he called her and her late husband Herzl "liars."
"Some two months before my husband's death, we met with Prime Minister Netanyahu who yelled at us and hurled accusations at us. He called us liars," Shaul said. "Until that meeting, Herzl had full confidence in the system and believed the promises made by the prime minister. This meeting was the straw that broke the camel's back."
The Prime Minister's Office denied Shaul's claims, saying "Prime Minister Netanyahu has never yelled at bereaved families or hurled accusations at them, the same is true for the Shaul family. The prime minister will continue making every effort until the sons return home."
In comments later in the day, Mrs. Shaul doubled down on her accusation, insisting that “Everything I said is true. And it is OK that he (Netanyahu) believes that what he is saying is true. You can ask the Goldin family as well, they were with us at the private meeting.”
5 aug 2018
Israel's Security Cabinet holds five hour discussions on ceasefire deal with Gaza, but reaches no decision; as Hamas demands release of high value prisoners for progress in prisoner exchange deal, and Abbas hardening positions on Gaza, Israel sees little chance of broad agreement.
The Security Cabinet discussed the proposed ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza for five hours on Sunday.
During the meeting, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot briefed the ministers on the situation in the strip.
While the ministers discussed the plan, they made no decisions on the matter and were not asked to approve it.
The plan, mediated by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov and Egyptian intelligence, is the first stage in the effort to reach a broader agreement between Hamas and Israel.
But there was not much optimism among the ministers. The chances of reaching a broader, long-term agreement with Hamas were very low, since there are too many obstacles on the way and it is doubtful the gaps can be bridged.
Hamas demands the release of high value prisoners in return for advancing negotiations for the release of civilians and the return of IDF soldiers' remains. Israel, meanwhile, objects to releasing high value prisoners, and conditions any broad agreement in a resolution to the issue of MIAs and POWs.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also hardening his positions. He remains intransigent to increasing the salaries of PA employees in Gaza and objects to the Egyptians' proposals, which makes it all the more difficult to resume Palestinian reconciliation.
If Abbas refuses to take civil control of the Gaza Strip, it's doubtful cash money could be brought into the strip to increase the residents' purchasing power.
Therefore, the stage that is most likely to succeed is the first one, the ceasefire: Hamas will commit to stopping the launching of incendiary balloons and kites, and Israel will agree to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
“A complete ceasefire (by the Palestinians) will lead, on Israel’s part, to the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing and renewal of permits given in respect to the fishing zones,” said an Israeli official.
He added that "there is no broad agreement on the table that does not include a solution to the issue of returning our citizens and the bodies of our soldiers being held in the strip."
Israeli officials estimate that such a ceasefire will not satisfy Hamas on the long term, and therefore the IDF prepares for the possibility of a limit round of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF is prepared for any scenario," a statement from the Cabinet said Sunday following the meeting.
The Security Cabinet discussed the proposed ceasefire agreement with Hamas in Gaza for five hours on Sunday.
During the meeting, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot briefed the ministers on the situation in the strip.
While the ministers discussed the plan, they made no decisions on the matter and were not asked to approve it.
The plan, mediated by UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov and Egyptian intelligence, is the first stage in the effort to reach a broader agreement between Hamas and Israel.
But there was not much optimism among the ministers. The chances of reaching a broader, long-term agreement with Hamas were very low, since there are too many obstacles on the way and it is doubtful the gaps can be bridged.
Hamas demands the release of high value prisoners in return for advancing negotiations for the release of civilians and the return of IDF soldiers' remains. Israel, meanwhile, objects to releasing high value prisoners, and conditions any broad agreement in a resolution to the issue of MIAs and POWs.
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is also hardening his positions. He remains intransigent to increasing the salaries of PA employees in Gaza and objects to the Egyptians' proposals, which makes it all the more difficult to resume Palestinian reconciliation.
If Abbas refuses to take civil control of the Gaza Strip, it's doubtful cash money could be brought into the strip to increase the residents' purchasing power.
Therefore, the stage that is most likely to succeed is the first one, the ceasefire: Hamas will commit to stopping the launching of incendiary balloons and kites, and Israel will agree to reopen the Kerem Shalom border crossing.
“A complete ceasefire (by the Palestinians) will lead, on Israel’s part, to the reopening of the Kerem Shalom crossing and renewal of permits given in respect to the fishing zones,” said an Israeli official.
He added that "there is no broad agreement on the table that does not include a solution to the issue of returning our citizens and the bodies of our soldiers being held in the strip."
Israeli officials estimate that such a ceasefire will not satisfy Hamas on the long term, and therefore the IDF prepares for the possibility of a limit round of fighting in the Gaza Strip.
"The IDF is prepared for any scenario," a statement from the Cabinet said Sunday following the meeting.
Mother of fallen IDF soldier Oron Shaul, whose remains are held by Hamas, says the prime minister 'yelled at us and hurled accusations at us' in meeting two months before her husband Herzl passed; PMO denies claims.
Zehava Shaul, whose son Oron Shaul was killed in Gaza and captured by Hamas, said Sunday she lost faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he called her and her late husband Herzl "liars."
"Some two months before my husband's death, we met with Prime Minister Netanyahu who yelled at us and hurled accusations at us. He called us liars," Shaul said. "Until that meeting, Herzl had full confidence in the system and believed the promises made by the prime minister. This meeting was the straw that broke the camel's back."
"Before he died, Herzl left me with his will—to no longer believe the promises and do whatever we can to bring Oron home."
Herzl Shaul lost his battle to cancer two years ago. His wife said "the longing and the uncertainty about the fate of his son, as well as the crisis of trust in the Israeli government" exacerbated to his illness.
The Prime Minister's Office denied Shaul's claims, saying "Prime Minister Netanyahu has never yelled at bereaved families or hurled accusations at them, the same is true for the Shaul family. The prime minister will continue making every effort until the sons return home."
Shaul made her claims at a joint press conference on Sunday morning with the families of fallen IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, whose fate was similar to that of Shaul, and the family of Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima, who is believed to be alive and in Hamas hands after entering Gaza of his own accord.
After the press conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, the families marched toward the Prime Minister's Office along with some 30 protesters and demanded to meet with Netanyahu amid reports a ceasefire deal with Hamas is imminent.
The protesters blocked the car of Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan, and shouted "Corrupted, go home!"
Later, the families plan to protest outside the Prime Minister's Residence while the Security Cabinet meets to discuss the deal, which reportedly does not include any guarantees on the return of the remains of the soldiers and the missing Israelis.
Zehava Shaul vowed "to do whatever is in my power, despite my problematic health, to bring Oron home," and called on the government not to negotiate with Hamas or sign any agreement with "a lowly and cruel organization that kidnapped Oron and Hadar, our best sons and soldiers, who were protecting the homeland."
She also called on Israeli citizens to "join the moral struggle and aid us in preventing the Israeli government from signing a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that does not include the precondition of returning the sons home."
"Don't let the Israeli government abandon our sons in the hands of the enemy. This is a final window of opportunity for us. We must not miss it," she pleaded.
In his first comments to the media since his brother was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Ofek Shaul asserted that "the government must stand its ground. The Cabinet members must demand that my brother, Oron, and Hadar and Avera Mengistu and Hisham (al-Sayed) will be part of the agreement."
"It cannot be that an agreement is reached with Hamas on some topics, while on the other hand they can't reach an agreement or put pressure in order to return the MIAs and POWs. Perhaps they simply don't put enough effort into it," Ofek added.
Oron Shaul's aunt Chaya Namimi read out a message in Arabic directed at Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. "I was born in Egypt. I am the daughter of Egypt. Please, we ask you to help us," she began.
"For four years, Oron Shaul, Hadar Goldin and other Israelis are being held by Hamas. The State of Israel has done nothing to return the children to their mothers. Oron's father died at the age of 53 because of sorrow over his son. President Sisi, we expect you to do all you can, and for Israel to do the same, Inshallah. Return the children to their mothers. God is with you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts," she said.
Dr. Simacha Goldin, whose son Hadar was also killed and captured during Operation Protective Edge, accused Netanyahu of speaking "hollow words behind which there is nothing" when saying the State of Israel is doing all in its power to return his son's body for burial.
"Now there are new expressions—'a broad framework,' 'a broad agreement'—it's all media spins. The truth is, there is no German mediator, there is no Qatari channel, there is no Egyptian intelligence man working on returning the soldiers and civilians. They don't exist because the prime minister of Israel has become a senior partner in this 'buy off agreement,'" he charged.
Dr. Goldin went on to clarify that "We are not against negotiations on prisoner exchange deals, but there is no negotiation, there was no negotiation, and there won't be any. How do I know this? Because on Thursday I spoke to the coordinator (for POWs and MIAs) Yaron Blum, and he himself doesn't know anything about negotiations to return my son, Zehava's son, and others."
"The agreement with Hamas has begun," he said. "The Israeli public must understand that the prime minister has no commitment to the values of the IDF or the alliance between the government and the soldiers' families. There is only the spin."
Goldin said he too lost his trust in Netanyahu "when he signed an agreement with (Turkish President) Erdogan, which humiliated the naval commandos" who stormed the Mavi Marmara boat while it was trying to breach the Gaza blockade in 2010, killing 10 Turkish activists on board who assaulted them.
Netanyahu, Goldin said, "decided at the last moment to remove the precondition from the agreement about returning the soldiers, despite making a commitment to include it." Since Turkish had influence with Hamas, the families believed at the time that the reconciliation agreement with Ankara should be tied to the return of their sons.
Hadar's mother Leah Goldin urged the prime minister, "Learn from (US President) Trump. Before the talks, before the agreements, he forced the North Korean leader to return the American MIAs and POWs home."
"There's no agreement without a return. There's no reconstruction (of Gaza) without Oron, Hadar, Hisham and Avera's return first," she stressed. "Agreements signed on ice, in the heat of the Middle East, we've seen in the Turkish accord two years ago and in Cairo four years ago. We won't have this betrayal of the values of Israeli society."
Leah Goldin also asserted that "this agreement is being cooked up and engineered by Netanyahu personally, and the soldiers and civilians are not part of it."
Zehava Shaul, whose son Oron Shaul was killed in Gaza and captured by Hamas, said Sunday she lost faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he called her and her late husband Herzl "liars."
"Some two months before my husband's death, we met with Prime Minister Netanyahu who yelled at us and hurled accusations at us. He called us liars," Shaul said. "Until that meeting, Herzl had full confidence in the system and believed the promises made by the prime minister. This meeting was the straw that broke the camel's back."
"Before he died, Herzl left me with his will—to no longer believe the promises and do whatever we can to bring Oron home."
Herzl Shaul lost his battle to cancer two years ago. His wife said "the longing and the uncertainty about the fate of his son, as well as the crisis of trust in the Israeli government" exacerbated to his illness.
The Prime Minister's Office denied Shaul's claims, saying "Prime Minister Netanyahu has never yelled at bereaved families or hurled accusations at them, the same is true for the Shaul family. The prime minister will continue making every effort until the sons return home."
Shaul made her claims at a joint press conference on Sunday morning with the families of fallen IDF soldier Hadar Goldin, whose fate was similar to that of Shaul, and the family of Jumaa Ibrahim Abu-Ghanima, who is believed to be alive and in Hamas hands after entering Gaza of his own accord.
After the press conference at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem, the families marched toward the Prime Minister's Office along with some 30 protesters and demanded to meet with Netanyahu amid reports a ceasefire deal with Hamas is imminent.
The protesters blocked the car of Deputy Defense Minister Eli Ben-Dahan, and shouted "Corrupted, go home!"
Later, the families plan to protest outside the Prime Minister's Residence while the Security Cabinet meets to discuss the deal, which reportedly does not include any guarantees on the return of the remains of the soldiers and the missing Israelis.
Zehava Shaul vowed "to do whatever is in my power, despite my problematic health, to bring Oron home," and called on the government not to negotiate with Hamas or sign any agreement with "a lowly and cruel organization that kidnapped Oron and Hadar, our best sons and soldiers, who were protecting the homeland."
She also called on Israeli citizens to "join the moral struggle and aid us in preventing the Israeli government from signing a ceasefire agreement with Hamas that does not include the precondition of returning the sons home."
"Don't let the Israeli government abandon our sons in the hands of the enemy. This is a final window of opportunity for us. We must not miss it," she pleaded.
In his first comments to the media since his brother was killed during Operation Protective Edge in 2014, Ofek Shaul asserted that "the government must stand its ground. The Cabinet members must demand that my brother, Oron, and Hadar and Avera Mengistu and Hisham (al-Sayed) will be part of the agreement."
"It cannot be that an agreement is reached with Hamas on some topics, while on the other hand they can't reach an agreement or put pressure in order to return the MIAs and POWs. Perhaps they simply don't put enough effort into it," Ofek added.
Oron Shaul's aunt Chaya Namimi read out a message in Arabic directed at Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. "I was born in Egypt. I am the daughter of Egypt. Please, we ask you to help us," she began.
"For four years, Oron Shaul, Hadar Goldin and other Israelis are being held by Hamas. The State of Israel has done nothing to return the children to their mothers. Oron's father died at the age of 53 because of sorrow over his son. President Sisi, we expect you to do all you can, and for Israel to do the same, Inshallah. Return the children to their mothers. God is with you, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts," she said.
Dr. Simacha Goldin, whose son Hadar was also killed and captured during Operation Protective Edge, accused Netanyahu of speaking "hollow words behind which there is nothing" when saying the State of Israel is doing all in its power to return his son's body for burial.
"Now there are new expressions—'a broad framework,' 'a broad agreement'—it's all media spins. The truth is, there is no German mediator, there is no Qatari channel, there is no Egyptian intelligence man working on returning the soldiers and civilians. They don't exist because the prime minister of Israel has become a senior partner in this 'buy off agreement,'" he charged.
Dr. Goldin went on to clarify that "We are not against negotiations on prisoner exchange deals, but there is no negotiation, there was no negotiation, and there won't be any. How do I know this? Because on Thursday I spoke to the coordinator (for POWs and MIAs) Yaron Blum, and he himself doesn't know anything about negotiations to return my son, Zehava's son, and others."
"The agreement with Hamas has begun," he said. "The Israeli public must understand that the prime minister has no commitment to the values of the IDF or the alliance between the government and the soldiers' families. There is only the spin."
Goldin said he too lost his trust in Netanyahu "when he signed an agreement with (Turkish President) Erdogan, which humiliated the naval commandos" who stormed the Mavi Marmara boat while it was trying to breach the Gaza blockade in 2010, killing 10 Turkish activists on board who assaulted them.
Netanyahu, Goldin said, "decided at the last moment to remove the precondition from the agreement about returning the soldiers, despite making a commitment to include it." Since Turkish had influence with Hamas, the families believed at the time that the reconciliation agreement with Ankara should be tied to the return of their sons.
Hadar's mother Leah Goldin urged the prime minister, "Learn from (US President) Trump. Before the talks, before the agreements, he forced the North Korean leader to return the American MIAs and POWs home."
"There's no agreement without a return. There's no reconstruction (of Gaza) without Oron, Hadar, Hisham and Avera's return first," she stressed. "Agreements signed on ice, in the heat of the Middle East, we've seen in the Turkish accord two years ago and in Cairo four years ago. We won't have this betrayal of the values of Israeli society."
Leah Goldin also asserted that "this agreement is being cooked up and engineered by Netanyahu personally, and the soldiers and civilians are not part of it."
3 aug 2018
In letter, family of fallen soldier Oron Shaul urges Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Security Cabinet not to sign ceasefire agreement with Gaza without return of fallen IDF soldiers, Israeli citizens being held by Hamas; 'It'll put a mark of shame on the State of Israel.'
The family of fallen IDF soldier Oron Shaul, whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday not to agree to a ceasefire agreement with the terror group if it does not include the return of their son's remains.
The family plans to protest outside the Israeli Security Cabinet's meeting on Sunday, during which the ministers will discuss the wide-scale arrangement on the Gaza Strip. The ministers will be briefed on the discussions held under the auspices of UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov and the Egyptians.
Hamas's political leadership is meeting in Gaza on Friday to discuss the possible ceasefire deal, which is reported to include a sea port and an airport for Gaza in Egypt and the improvement of living conditions in the strip.
In a letter to the prime minister and the members of the Security Cabinet, the Shaul family wrote: "We turn to you at this fateful hour, on the eve of the meeting in which the Cabinet is due to make decisions on an agreement in Gaza (hudna)."
"We will preface by saying that any agreement that does not include the return of Oron, Hadar (Goldin), Avera and the other citizens (being held by Hamas) will not be worth the paper it's written on, or alternatively the understandings and verbal promises being made. Remember, this will all come back to us like a boomerang," the family warned.
IDF soldiers Shaul and Goldin were both killed during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014. Hamas has been holding their bodies ever since. Hamas is also holding two Israeli citizens who accidentally entered the strip—Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, both of whom are believed to be alive.
"For this agreement to have any practical and moral validity, the first article must be the release of our sons. Only then will the agreement be strong and worthy," the family asserted.
They went on to stipulate that "an agreement that does not include the return of our sons is akin to a high-rise building without foundations. Our sons are the very heart and backbone of the agreement. An agreement without the return of our sons is a capitulation agreement that testifies and will testify to the weakness of our country. This will give the enemy the strength to violate the agreement from time to time, without fear."
Turning to Israelis, and particularly those living in Gaza border communities, the family stressed, "our sons went to defend you with their body and soul, they had the courage and bravery. Therefore, you are required by morality and conscience to oppose an agreement that abandons our sons," the family continued. "Furthermore, if the agreement does not include our sons, it will be doomed to fail. An agreement without our sons will not bring to the quiet and calm we long for."
Turning back to the prime minister, the family wrote: "You and we know the truth—if you had acted with a clean conscience, a pure heart and without foreign considerations, such as the electorate and political agenda—we would have had our sons back in their homeland a long time ago.
"In conclusion, we'll say unequivocally: had this matter been up to the defense establishment, our sons would've been home a long time ago. Abandoning our soldiers and citizens puts a mark of shame on the State of Israel."
Professor Simcha Goldin added that Israel’s interest should be first and foremost bringing back its soldiers.
"Ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting on Sunday, there are plenty of rumors … We won’t let the money reach Gaza before the soldiers are returned. The interest of the State of Israel is first and foremost to bring back the soldiers. It is clear to everyone, except for the prime minister and this needs to change.
"The UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov is responsible for the fact that Hadar is still not with us. Hadar was kidnapped during a ceasefire that was mediated by the UN, therefore the UN is responsible for bringing him back," Goldin concluded.
According to Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, the first stage of the ceasefire agreement will come into effect within a week and will include an end to "March of Return" protest activities on the Israel-Gaza border. In return, the Kerem Shalom border crossing will resume activity and the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will be reopened on a more permanent basis.
The second stage will include the improvement of living conditions in the Gaza Strip and the complete removal of the blockade, according to the Lebanese paper. Israel will allow the transfer of goods into the strip and increase the electricity it provides Gaza.
The third stage of the plan, according to the report, will include the launch of UN humanitarian projects already proposed in the past, including the construction of a sea port for Gaza in Ismailia, Egypt, operating an airport for the strip in Sinai, as well as the construction of a power plant in the Egyptian peninsula. In addition, the reconstruction of Gaza will go ahead.
Among the other incentives to the Palestinians in the plan is increasing the power supply to the strip to four additional hours a day, $31 million in aid from Qatar, and $91 million in aid for UNRWA. In addition, $10 million will be transferred to the strip to pay salaries to Palestinian Authority employees in the Gaza Strip.
The family of fallen IDF soldier Oron Shaul, whose body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday not to agree to a ceasefire agreement with the terror group if it does not include the return of their son's remains.
The family plans to protest outside the Israeli Security Cabinet's meeting on Sunday, during which the ministers will discuss the wide-scale arrangement on the Gaza Strip. The ministers will be briefed on the discussions held under the auspices of UN Middle East envoy Nikolay Mladenov and the Egyptians.
Hamas's political leadership is meeting in Gaza on Friday to discuss the possible ceasefire deal, which is reported to include a sea port and an airport for Gaza in Egypt and the improvement of living conditions in the strip.
In a letter to the prime minister and the members of the Security Cabinet, the Shaul family wrote: "We turn to you at this fateful hour, on the eve of the meeting in which the Cabinet is due to make decisions on an agreement in Gaza (hudna)."
"We will preface by saying that any agreement that does not include the return of Oron, Hadar (Goldin), Avera and the other citizens (being held by Hamas) will not be worth the paper it's written on, or alternatively the understandings and verbal promises being made. Remember, this will all come back to us like a boomerang," the family warned.
IDF soldiers Shaul and Goldin were both killed during Operation Protective Edge in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014. Hamas has been holding their bodies ever since. Hamas is also holding two Israeli citizens who accidentally entered the strip—Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, both of whom are believed to be alive.
"For this agreement to have any practical and moral validity, the first article must be the release of our sons. Only then will the agreement be strong and worthy," the family asserted.
They went on to stipulate that "an agreement that does not include the return of our sons is akin to a high-rise building without foundations. Our sons are the very heart and backbone of the agreement. An agreement without the return of our sons is a capitulation agreement that testifies and will testify to the weakness of our country. This will give the enemy the strength to violate the agreement from time to time, without fear."
Turning to Israelis, and particularly those living in Gaza border communities, the family stressed, "our sons went to defend you with their body and soul, they had the courage and bravery. Therefore, you are required by morality and conscience to oppose an agreement that abandons our sons," the family continued. "Furthermore, if the agreement does not include our sons, it will be doomed to fail. An agreement without our sons will not bring to the quiet and calm we long for."
Turning back to the prime minister, the family wrote: "You and we know the truth—if you had acted with a clean conscience, a pure heart and without foreign considerations, such as the electorate and political agenda—we would have had our sons back in their homeland a long time ago.
"In conclusion, we'll say unequivocally: had this matter been up to the defense establishment, our sons would've been home a long time ago. Abandoning our soldiers and citizens puts a mark of shame on the State of Israel."
Professor Simcha Goldin added that Israel’s interest should be first and foremost bringing back its soldiers.
"Ahead of the Security Cabinet meeting on Sunday, there are plenty of rumors … We won’t let the money reach Gaza before the soldiers are returned. The interest of the State of Israel is first and foremost to bring back the soldiers. It is clear to everyone, except for the prime minister and this needs to change.
"The UN envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov is responsible for the fact that Hadar is still not with us. Hadar was kidnapped during a ceasefire that was mediated by the UN, therefore the UN is responsible for bringing him back," Goldin concluded.
According to Lebanese newspaper Al Akhbar, the first stage of the ceasefire agreement will come into effect within a week and will include an end to "March of Return" protest activities on the Israel-Gaza border. In return, the Kerem Shalom border crossing will resume activity and the Rafah border crossing with Egypt will be reopened on a more permanent basis.
The second stage will include the improvement of living conditions in the Gaza Strip and the complete removal of the blockade, according to the Lebanese paper. Israel will allow the transfer of goods into the strip and increase the electricity it provides Gaza.
The third stage of the plan, according to the report, will include the launch of UN humanitarian projects already proposed in the past, including the construction of a sea port for Gaza in Ismailia, Egypt, operating an airport for the strip in Sinai, as well as the construction of a power plant in the Egyptian peninsula. In addition, the reconstruction of Gaza will go ahead.
Among the other incentives to the Palestinians in the plan is increasing the power supply to the strip to four additional hours a day, $31 million in aid from Qatar, and $91 million in aid for UNRWA. In addition, $10 million will be transferred to the strip to pay salaries to Palestinian Authority employees in the Gaza Strip.
9 july 2018
Israel's Supreme Court on Monday allowed the release of the bodies of three Palestinian martyrs kept in Israeli custody, a decision that was rejected by the family of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip.
The court justified its decision by saying that it goes in line with the laws set by the Israeli cabinet which prohibit the release of the bodies of Palestinians who belong to Hamas or carry out fatal attacks.
Hamas refuses to start negotiations for a new prisoner exchange deal with Israel before the latter releases over 50 Palestinian prisoners who were released in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar deal but re-arrested later.
The court justified its decision by saying that it goes in line with the laws set by the Israeli cabinet which prohibit the release of the bodies of Palestinians who belong to Hamas or carry out fatal attacks.
Hamas refuses to start negotiations for a new prisoner exchange deal with Israel before the latter releases over 50 Palestinian prisoners who were released in the 2011 Wafa al-Ahrar deal but re-arrested later.
Some 400 Israeli soldiers who fought in the 2014 war on Gaza returned the pins they received for fighting in the operation to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday in protest of the government’s failure to return soldiers held captive in Gaza.
The organizers of the event, on the street outside the prime minister’s official residence, called on Netanyahu’s government to work on retrieving the bodies of the captive soldiers.
“We are here to remind the prime minister and members of the security cabinet that Operation Protective Edge won’t end until Lt. Hadar Goldin and Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul are returned,” the soldiers said in letter read out in the event.
The families of the fallen soldiers have been publicly critical of the occupation government’s policies toward the case, calling for Israel to strike a deal with the concerned parties so as to release their relatives.
Four Israeli soldiers have been held captive in Gaza. Hamas keeps saying that no prisoner swap deal shall ever be struck unless thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are released.
The organizers of the event, on the street outside the prime minister’s official residence, called on Netanyahu’s government to work on retrieving the bodies of the captive soldiers.
“We are here to remind the prime minister and members of the security cabinet that Operation Protective Edge won’t end until Lt. Hadar Goldin and Staff Sgt. Oron Shaul are returned,” the soldiers said in letter read out in the event.
The families of the fallen soldiers have been publicly critical of the occupation government’s policies toward the case, calling for Israel to strike a deal with the concerned parties so as to release their relatives.
Four Israeli soldiers have been held captive in Gaza. Hamas keeps saying that no prisoner swap deal shall ever be struck unless thousands of Palestinians held in Israeli jails are released.
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