The South African Jewish community has called off plans to wave 'Free Gilad Shalit' flags at Sunday's World Cup final in Johannesburg between Spain and Holland. The Beyachad Jewish Community Center in Johannesburg, which has been coordinating the campaign, has sent an email asking soccer fans not to bring such flags along to the game on Sunday.

The decision to call off the protest, which would have reached a TV viewing audience of hundreds of millions worldwide, came after FIFA (the world soccer federation) informed the Jewish community that such flags are in their opinion a political message. Consequently, the heads of the Jewish community feared they could be subject to a lawsuit, or official complaints against Jewish institutions.

'Free Gilad Shalit' flags have been seen in stadia throughout South Africa during the tournament and were particularly prominent at Tuesday night's semi-final between Uruguay and Holland.

The Jewish Agency's emissary in Cape Town Omer Calderon said, "The matches in South Africa have been an historic opportunity to get an important message across and for the Jewish community to show solidarity with the struggle to free Gilad Shalit."

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was siezed by Hamas terrorists in 2006 and has been held incomunicado since then.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on July 8, 2010

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2010