Gilad Schalit – Negotiating his Freedom

Israeli peace Activist, Gershon Baskin, embarked on a one man crusade to negotiate the release of Israeli prisoner Gilad Shalit, held captive by Hamas in Gaza. His journey lasted 5 years and 4 months to bring Shalit home. This remarkable, gripping and inspirational story was told by Baskin at Limmud South Africa 2012. Please note: The story is in 6 parts.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Limmud is the Hebrew word for learning. Limmud SA is a community of learning where South African Jews learn and share ideas, regardless of their affiliations or levels of Jewish knowledge. It is exciting, dynamic and diverse. Limmud makes accessible some of the world’s most dynamic Jewish educators, performers and teachers at annual conferences around the country. Limmud is organised almost entirely by teams of volunteers. We believe there is space for everyone to contribute in their own unique way.

Categories: Gilad SchalitInsightsVideo

Gershon Baskin

Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.