Bereaved parents and organizations opposed to releasing terrorists asked the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (Presidents Conference) to reject outright the call by Noam Shalit in a speech to the group to exert pressure on the American and Israeli governments to release terrorists in exchange for Shalit's son Gilad, held captive by Hamas since June 25, 2006.
Responding to the older Shalit's call to take a chance, they wrote to the Presidents Conference, "The prime minister must not take chances that could harm civilians and soldiers, and encourage more abductions." Chairman Meir Indor of the Almagor umbrella group of terror-victim organizations asked conference leader Malcolm Honlein for Almagor members to appear before the presidents to balance Shalit's address.