Noam Schalit thanks over 5,000 supporters in Zichron Yaakov.
By JPOST.COM STAFFSchalit march 311 AP(photo credit: Associated Press)
A march demanding the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit continued on its fourth day on Wednesday, passing through through Yokenam and Zichron Yaakov. The "Freedom March" reached Kibbutz Maagan Michael that evening.Speaking in front of 5,000 supporters at the Zichron Yaakov municipality, Noam Schalit said "it may be that the family began this journey too late, after four years of waiting for Gilad and waiting for Israel's prime ministers to return him, but unfortunately, it hasn't happened." RELATED:Editorial: The agonizing Schalit debateMashaal: More will be kidnappedSchalit thanked the nation for supporting his family, and was hopeful that their voices would reach decision-makers in Jerusalem.In the late afternoon, traffic jams were reported between Kibbutz Yagur and Yokenam as a result of the procession.Popular Israeli singer Eyal Golan, along with 2,000 others joined the march from Zichron Yaakov to Kibbutz Maagan Michael, where Schalit's parents stopped for the night.The activists set out on their 11-day trek on Monday, aiming to reach Jerusalem and meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyhau next week.On Tuesday, Netanyahu had urged Russia to press Hamas to release Schalit, who has been held captive by the group in Gaza for the last four years.
“Put heavy pressure on them,” Netanyahu told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who was visiting Israel before heading on to Cairo.Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report
