Jewish ‘flotilla’ protests for Shalit’s freedom

By Sergey Kadinsky

On the day before the fourth anniversary of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping by Hamas terrorists, Jewish leaders took their protest to sea, or at least to the East River, with a humanitarian flotilla of their own.

“We are the true Freedom Flotilla, addressing the real siege in Gaza,” said Conference of Presidents Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein last Thursday. Standing at the bow of the Queen of Hearts excursion boat, Hoenlein joined some 200 participants who crowded onto two boats festooned with Israeli flags that sailed toward the United Nations’ headquarters on the East Side. They were joined by smaller private vessels and supporters on shore.

“For four years he has suffered, not even the Red Cross can access him,” said Hoenlein. Alongside Jewish leaders, the floating protest also received statements of support from Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, and French Deputy Consul Patrick Lechaussee. Shalit is also a French citizen.

“Gilad Shalit has been deprived of his basic human rights and should meet with the Red Cross,” said Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Gabriela Shalev. Echoing the packages that the self-described Gaza Freedom Flotilla carried, Hoenlein and Shalev handed a box to Rosemary Mackey, chief of external affairs for the American Red Cross. Inside were harmless items including food, fresh clothing, and glasses.

“We are deeply troubled when the International Red Cross is deprived of access to people like Gilad Shalit,” said Mackey. “It is mandated under the Geneva Convention. We will continue to raise this case.”

While many passengers on board received short notice of the event they did not hesitate to participate.

“This is a real peaceful flotilla unlike the other one,” said Fair Lawn, NJ resident Robin Stahl. “They won’t even let the Red Cross visit him.” Stahl found out about the flotilla by email.

Traveling with a group of Brandeis University students, junior Michelle Kuchinsky said that in contrast to the Gaza flotilla, the mood on this flotilla was all positive. “It’s great that we used something used for hate and we use it for love,” said Kuchinsky.

Following the speeches, performers Gershon Veroba, a Far Rockaway resident, and Ron Eliran led the crowd in song and chants of “Od Gilad Chai,” to say that Gilad Shalit still lives. As the boats approached the United Nations headquarters, Coast Guard speedboats tailed the flotilla with machine gunners facing the protesters.

Among the non-Jewish participants on the boats, Rev. Michel Faulkner of the New Horizons Church in Harlem spoke of his religious commitment to Israel. “It is important that you know that the Christian community stands with Israel,” said Faulkner. “We will pray, march, give, and go, and we will not be silent.”

Among black clergy, the support is not universal. A week earlier, Rev. Herbert Daughtry of the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn hosted the Gaza flotilla participants. Faulkner politely disagreed with Daughtry’s stance. “We stood together on many issues, but we disagree here. This is a civil rights issue.”

While the “peaceful flotilla” attracted a small crowd of news reporters, some participants felt that in a city with as many Jews as New York, more people should have attended.

“American Jewry should be more aggressive and involved,” said Upper East Side resident Yuliy Tartakovsky. “They should work for Gilad Shalit as hard they did for Soviet Jews.”