December 10, 2009 /  23 Kislev 5770

It was an emotional moment at the Red Cross offices in Argentina on December 10, International Human Rights Day, when students from the Shalom Alechem and Hillel schools in Buenos Ares presented 8,471 postcards signed by Argentinean citizens.  The postcards ask Red Cross officials to visit Gilad Shalit to ensure his health and well-being.  Michel Minnig, a senior official of the Red Cross in South America, greeted the delegation, which was led by Roni Steinitz, the Jewish Agency’s regional director in Latin America, as well as several representatives of the community and its institutions.

The delegation was also joined by Yair Dori, who spent approximately one year in captivity in Egypt during the period of the War of Attrition.  Dori spoke about his contact with the Red Cross during the time he spent as a captive.  All the participants at the meeting, particularly the Red Cross representative, emphasized the importance of protecting Gilad Shalit’s human rights, and the organization’s commitment to continue in its efforts to meet with the captured soldier.