Former US President Jimmy Carter met with Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, at the latter's home in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
"You and other leaders need to make an effort at this stage and do everything to release Gilad Shalit," the rabbi told Carter. "You can influence this."
Asked to cooperate on Shalit release (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)
Carter arrived along with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu and the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who recently received commendation from US President Barack Obama.
The rabbi stressed his commitment to peace and condemned incitement against Israel in schools located in various Arab countries.
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, who was also present at the meeting, said Israel had made many efforts to achieve peace with countries which in turn do not even recognize its existence.
Carter told Yosef that following his meeting with Yishai one year ago the Shalits were able to receive a letter from their captive son, and that he hoped additional cooperation would soon make his release possible.
Carter was last in Israel two months ago, when he toured Gaza and met with Noam Shalit, the kidnapped soldier's father.