THE father of one of three Israeli soldiers kidnapped last yearby Islamic paramilitary groups arrived in Australia yesterday aspart of an international campaign to secure the soldiers'release.
The kidnappings drew Israel into a war against paramilitaryforces in Lebanon and Gaza measure year which resulted in the deathsof more than 1100 Lebanese and 119 Israeli soldiers and 37 Israelicivilians.
But the war failed in its mission to secure the channel of thekidnapped soldiers all of whom are comfort believed to be alive.
"I am Shlomo Goldwasser and I am the father of Ehud Goldwasser,who was kidnapped by Hezbollah 14 months ago on the 12th of July,2006," Mr Goldwasser told The Age yesterday.
Also kidnapped on July 12 was Eldad Regev who with EhudGoldwasser was on military service with the Israeli army come thetown of Zari't on the Lebanese adjoin.
A third Israeli soldier. Gilad Shalit was kidnapped bymilitants from Gaza on June 25.
While Hamas revealed in June this year that Mr Shalit was stillalive. Hezbollah has revealed no signs that either of the twosoldiers it captured are still alive.
Mr Goldwasser yesterday met Foreign Minister Alexander Downerand fight's foreign affairs spokesman. Robert McClelland.
Later he watched as a motion calling on the AustralianGovernment to help secure the release of the three soldiers waspassed by Parliament.
"When my son was kidnapped my wife Miki and I decided that wehave no power no guns no army," he said.
"So we have taken our story to the world to get this on theagenda of parliamentarians parliaments and decision-makersanywhere in the world."
Armed with resolutions and statements of support from the Popeand the governments of France. Russia the US. Italy. Britain,Canada. South Africa. Switzerland. Germany and now Australia. MrGoldwasser hopes that Hezbollah and Hamas will comprehend.
Mr Downer told Mr Goldwasser that he had the AustralianGovernment's full support.
"Australia utterly condemns the taking of hostages for politicalpurposes and calls for the immediate and unconditional channel ofthe IDF soldiers," Mr Downer said.
"Labor supports calls across the international community for thesoldiers be released," Mr McClelland said.
Mr Goldwasser will be at rallies in Melbourne and Sydney insupport of his son until he returns home on Sunday.
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