Rep. Keith Ellison Welcomes Release of Gilad Shalit

Press Release

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) hailed the Israeli-Palestinian negotiation that will lead to the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and release of Israel Defense Forces' Corp. Gilad Shalit.

Shalit has been held by the terrorist group Hamas since 2006. Rep. Ellison last year cosponsored a House Resolution calling for Shalit's release.

"This is wonderful news for the Shalit family and for the many Palestinian families who will soon embrace their freed loved ones," said Rep. Ellison. "Accomplishments like this one show negotiations can succeed."

In August, Rep. Ellison joined religious and academic leaders in calling for Hamas to release Gilad Shalit on humanitarian grounds. This call came during the month of Ramadan. Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding and a strong advocate for strengthening Muslim-Jewish relations encouraged the Congressman and other American Muslim to pursue this effort. Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, Dr. Sayyid Syeed, national director of the Islamic Society of North America, and Prof. Akbar Ahmed of American University were among 11 prominent Muslim leaders who signed a letter to Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, which cited the teachings of Muhammad to argue for the release of Shalit.

Rabbi Schneier also organized a dinner in New York, which Shalit's father, Noam Shalit, attended with several of the Muslim leaders and thanked them for their efforts on his son's behalf. Rabbi Michel Serfaty, president of the Judeo-Muslim Friendship Society of France, was then asked to facilitate a meeting between Noam Shalit and 15 French Muslim leaders who also appealed to Hamas to free Gilad Shalit.

"This effort shows the willingness of prominent Muslims and Jews in the U.S., France and elsewhere to speak up for each other," Rep. Ellison commented. Noting that Rabbi Schneier and other prominent Jewish leaders recently issued a statement in coordination with the Islamic Society of North America denouncing the heinous arson attack on a mosque in northern Israel, apparently by Jewish extremists, Rep. Ellison remarked, "I am glad that more Jews and Muslims are standing together when one side or the other is unfairly attacked, even if the attackers may sometimes be deeply misguided members of our respective communities. Let's hope these actions continue and ultimately lead to peace."

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