Resources
Example of Testimony
This speech was delivered by Gabrielle Flaum and Sam Cantor, founding members of the Save our Soldiers campaign, on the ten-month anniversary of the capture of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwaser in the New Jersey State Assembly. This speech was then delivered one month later in the New Jersey State Senate.
Gabrielle:
“Last summer, I traveled to Israel with 530 other teens. Ten months ago today, two soldiers were kidnapped in Northern Israel, igniting the war with Hezbollah. My Israeli counselor informed us about the war, and told us his friend was one of the first people killed in the conflict. Immediately, I had been thrust into a world conflict without even comprehending the issue.
“With changes to the itinerary our trip continued and while sitting on a grassy spot near Jerusalem, the same counselor whose friend was killed, told us he needed to go to the reserves, and within an hour he went to serve in the war. I have never been confronted with this kind of fear; my new Israeli friend was about to be fighting a war. My experience this summer made me realize how precious life is.
“When I got home I knew that I could not let the image of my counselor going to war, the image of new graves in Mount Hertzel cemetery, and the weeping of my Israeli friends when their town was hit by Kaytusha rockets go unnoticed.
Sam:
“On Sunday June 25, 2006 at 5:40 am, a terrorist group of Palestinians crossed the border south of the Gaza Strip into Israel through a tunnel near Karem Shalom and attacked an army facility that was within the sovereign territory of Israel.
“The 8 man force penetrated about one hundred meters into Israeli territory and split into three groups. The second group attacked an IDL post manned by soldiers of the Desert Patrol. This attack included explosives and gunfire from light weapons which wounded three Israeli soldiers. At the same time at least one rocket was fired and grenades were thrown at a tank positioned in the area. The tank was manned by four soldiers including Gilad Shalit. The missile hit the tank causing the death of two soldiers. A third soldier was wounded. Gilad Schalit, the fourth soldier in the tank, was abducted and taken by the terrorists to the Gaza strip. Shalit’s abductors were members of Hamas. Despite repeated demands and U.N. Resolution 1701 the terrorists refuse to return Shalit to Israel.”
“ On Sunday, June 18, 2006 Ehud Goldwassar and Eldad Regev were called up for reserve service on the northern border. They were meant to serve 28 days. The service was to include security patrols along the border and other security tasks for the defense of Israel’s northern settlements.
“Wednesday morning, July 12, 2006 was the last day of their service. Ehud and Eldad packed their things and prepared to go home immediately after their last patrol. The patrol included two vehicles, Humvees that advanced parallel to the border fence from west to east. Ehud was sitting in the right front seat. Eldad was sitting right behind him.
“At 9:05 Hezbollah heavily bombarded the whole region. This turned out to be a diversion for the planned kidnapping of the soldiers.
“At this point the Humvees were in a passage in the wadi, when they were suddenly attacked by a group of Hezbollah terrorists.
“The leading Humvee in which Udi and Eldad were riding, was hit first by anti-tank RPG missiles.
“The second vehicle, 50 – 60 meters behind, reported by radio the hit of the first vehicle before it, too, was hit directly by two anti-tank missiles. The three soldiers in this Humvee were killed.
“After the strikes, the terrorists opened fire from lighter weapons in the direction of the wounded soldiers and the damaged vehicles. The driver of the first Humvee managed to stop it and to climb out, taking with him the wounded soldier sitting behind him. Under cover of the firing, Udi and Eldad were kidnapped and taken to Lebanese soil. It is unknown whether they managed to climb out of the vehicle before they were kidnapped. Footsteps, bloodstains and a hole in the fence were found at the scene.
“These events led to the war in Northern Israel.”
Gabrielle:
“We are calling upon you, the State and Government Committee to post AS244 immediately. We need your help to let the New Jersey legislature know that the Jewish community is adamant in their desire to free the soldiers.
“A week ago, our group, Save our Soldiers, had the privilege of meeting with kidnapped soldier Ehud Goldwassar’s wife Karnit. We promised her that we would tell her story and lobby the New Jersey legislature until her husband and his comrades were returned.
“We learned that Karnit was married to Ehud only shortly before he was kidnapped. They had been dating for ten years and married only 9 months before his abduction. On July 12 at 8:00 Ehud called home telling Karnit he would be home in time for dinner. She waited for hours for him with a delicious meal until there was a knock at the door. When she opened the door she was greeted by 2 military men telling her her husband had been kidnapped.
“Karnit has led an unrelenting effort seeking to have her husband and his comrades released. We join with Karnit today, seeking your help to free Goldwassar, Regev and Shalit.
“We could tell you many moving stories about each of these soldiers and how they each have family and friends who are missing them. But the theme is that we must do something to help each of them. Together, you and I can help bring them home.
“Why are we wearing black?
“Today is the ten month anniversary of the abduction of Goldwassar and Regev. In Israel the citizens are wearing black to let the Israeli government know that they have not forgotten these soldiers. So we join with our sisters and brothers in Israel so that we in America do not forget these soldiers.
“In closing we urge you to post resolution AS244 and bring it to a final vote and together we can bring these soldiers home. We ask you the representatives of the most powerful democratic country in the world to help us stand up for social justice and let the terrorists know that this is wrong.
“Just this past Saturday 3 American soldiers were kidnapped in Iraq. I read a report that said that America will do everything in its power to find them. We need to show the same solidarity for our Israeli allies.
“It is our pleasure to present you with these dog tags bearing the names of the three soldiers.
On behalf of S.O.S. thank you for your time and attention to this very important matter.”
Resolution passed in New Jersey Legislature:
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2006/Bills/SR/94_I1.PDF
