THE JEWISH FEDERATION of Greater Monmouth County is supporting efforts to draw attention to the plight of the three Israeli soldiers who were captured by Hamas and Hizbullah last summer.

Gilad Shalit, 19, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on June 25. Ehud Goldwasser, 31, and Eldad Regev, 26, were nabbed by Hizbullah in a July 12 cross-border raid that sparked the month-long war between Israel and Hizbullah. The three have not been seen or heard from since.

“What has happened to these men is a direct violation of UN Resolution 1701, which calls for the immediate release of the soldiers,” said federation executive director Howard Gases. “It is also a violation of the Geneva Conventions. To not give any signal as to the health and whereabouts of these three men is not only morally wrong, it adds to the already significant pain of the families and friends of these men.”

The Monmouth federation is joining United Jewish Communities and its national network of federations in launching a new advocacy and awareness campaign on behalf of the captive Israeli soldiers.

The advocacy component consists of an on-line petition addressed to incoming UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that asks for his participation in demanding the release of the three soldiers and for his support in implementing Resolution 1701.

The Dec. 20 press conference with NJ politicians in Scotch Plains was intended to refocus the attention of state and national decision-makers on the kidnappings, said Gases, who attended the event.

“But we really want the attention of the world to zero in on this issue,” he added. “Neither the Red Cross nor any other diplomatic group has been able to contact the missing men.”

UJC and the federations are also producing a set of dog tags that will bear the names of the soldiers and the dates of their kidnappings. The petition and the dog tags were introduced at the recent UJC General Assembly. Information on both items is available at www.freethesoldiers.org. In January the Monmouth federation will have the dog tags available at a nominal cost. For more information, call 732-531-6200.

“Hanukka is the festival of lights and freedom,” said Monmouth federation president Robert St. Lifer of Colts Neck. “We hope all these efforts will lead to a season of peace for all and freedom from captivity.”