[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11079]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING GAL SITTY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING HUMANITARIAN ADVOCACY ON BEHALF 
               OF KIDNAPPED ISRAELI SOLDIER GILAD SHALIT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2011

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of an outstanding 
resident of the district I proudly represent, Gal Sitty. Mr. Sitty has 
worked hard to raise awareness of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad 
Shalit's plight and the ongoing effort to secure his release.
  Mr. Sitty launched a successful effort to raise $10,000 for the 
placement of a billboard near the United Nations headquarters in New 
York City. The billboard featuring a picture of Gilad Shalit will 
ensure that the captured soldier is not forgotten. It also encourages 
UN leaders to assist in facilitating his release.
  Mr. Sitty was motivated to undertake this effort because he 
understands that during the five years since Shalit's capture, Gilad 
and his family have been suffering and living a nightmare. Mr. Sitty's 
efforts have undoubtedly provided Gilad Shalit's family comfort because 
they know that the American people stand behind them ready to help.
  I commend Mr. Sitty for his advocacy on Gilad Shalit's behalf and 
thank him for his outstanding efforts to keep the world focused on this 
tragedy. Mr. Sitty's hard work plays an important role in the effort to 
return Gilad home to his family.
  In conclusion Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of the 
House to the following article published in the May 8th addition of the 
Jerusalem Post--``Angeleno Launches Drive for Shalit Billboard Near 
UN'', and I ask that it be published in the Congressional Record.

                 [From the Jerusalem Post, May 8, 2011]

          Angeleno Launches Drive for Shalit Billboard Near UN

                            (By Debra Kamin)

       June 25 of this year will mark five years in captivity for 
     Gilad Shalit, and one American is determined to make sure 
     that this anniversary does not go unnoticed.
       Gal Sitty, a 28-year-old Los Angeles native, has started a 
     campaign on epicstep.com to fund and erect a billboard near 
     the Manhattan headquarters of the United Nations imploring 
     leaders to take steps to free the captive soldier.
       ``In [the past] five years I've gone to grad school, had 
     numerous jobs, spent many holidays with my family, had good 
     times with friends and so forth,'' Sitty said to The 
     Jerusalem Post when asked about his motivations. ``Meanwhile, 
     Gilad Shalit and his family have had none of that. They have 
     been suffering, living a nightmare.''
       Epicstep was founded earlier this year by Lev Reys and 
     brothers Gene and Eugene Vekslar. The site works as a 
     fundraising platform for creating billboards--users choose 
     the issue they feel compelled to promote and supporters log 
     on and donate until the final cost, which varies per 
     billboard but for Sitty's campaign is $10,000, is reached. 
     Supporters' credit cards are not charged until the 
     fundraising goal is reached, so if the campaign to create a 
     billboard fails, no pledges are lost.
       Sitty was born in Israel and raised in a Hebrew-speaking 
     home. He is quick to admit that this is an issue that is 
     close to his heart. ``The recent Fatah-Hamas reconciliation 
     agreement makes no mention of Gilad Shalit. This means that 
     Fatah and the Palestinian Authority are now complicit in this 
     crime,'' he said. ``I think getting this billboard up keeps 
     the pressure on . . . leaders of the world to not overlook 
     this human tragedy.''
       Sitty, who holds a master's degree in public policy, still 
     lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a researcher for the 
     Broad Foundation. He selected New York City as the site for 
     his billboard, however, because he believes that no one needs 
     to hear his message more than the delegates at the United 
     Nations.
       ``Soon the world's diplomats will be assembling at the UN 
     to discuss recognition of a Palestinian state and it is very 
     important that we remind them of Shalit so that the whole 
     world does not become complicit in such crimes,'' he said. 
     ``If the UN endorses a Palestinian state with Hamas in the 
     government, then the UN indirectly endorses crimes against 
     humanity and puts many more at risk of being kidnapped by 
     terrorist organizations. We cannot allow this to happen.''
       What the actual impact of a placard bearing Shalit's face 
     will be remains to be seen. But Sitty is pragmatic when he 
     describes his motivations. ``I know that I don't have the 
     power to actually free him,'' he said of Shalit, ``but by 
     getting this billboard up I think it keeps the pressure on 
     the policy makers.'' And while Gilad will not know about the 
     campaign, Sitty is also eager to help two other important 
     figures--Noam and Aviva Shalit.
       ``I hope that many people, Israelis and non-Israelis, Jews 
     and non-Jews, from all over the world contribute to this 
     campaign and show the Shalit family that we haven't forgotten 
     them, haven't forgotten their son, and will never forget 
     about their suffering,'' Sitty said. ``We will continue to 
     stand beside them and do whatever we can to help them.''

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