Report: German agent to handle captives' release
German Der Spiegel reports that UN's Annan met with German intelligence official in Madrid in September, before heading to Middle East. One hundred days after abduction of two IDF soldiers on Lebanese border, Ehud Goldwasser's parents say: 'We don't know what to do.' Add they 'have no complaints'
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has tasked a member of Germany's secret service with securing the release of two Israeli soldiers kidnapped earlier this year by Hizbullah, a leading German weekly said Saturday. The full report will be published Monday but excerpts from the report say that Annan met with the agent last month in Madrid. The unnamed Agent then left for the Middle East.
According to Der Spiegel the agent, who works for Germany's Federal Information Agency, has experience in mediating between the Lebanese group and Israel. A spokesman for the German government declined to comment on the report.
Saturday afternoon brought a simple-worded plea from Mickey and Shlomo Goldwasser, parents of kidnapped soldier Ehud: "We don't know what to do," they said, trying to express the feelings that they have grappled with ever since their son was kidnapped along with Eldad Regev exactly 100 days ago. "We only want those who were kidnapped back," they said.
"We don't have any complaints that nothing is being done," said Ehud's mother, "we aren't coming from a place of protest but from a desire to unify and be together."
The Goldwassers returned Friday night from a visit to Russia as they attempt to advance efforts to bring their son home. They attended a community event in Beer Sheva and tried to look optimistic. "Being the parents of a kidnapped soldier is still better than to be bereaved parents," they said, "We're trying to separate the war from our personal case."
While in Russia the couple met with the Sunni Mufti, but according to them they are not hanging their hope with him as he said that he would've initiate it, but that he would gladly speak to any member of Hizbollah who approached him.
Still no sign of life
The Goldwassers also met with Aleksandr Troshin, the deputy speaker of the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, who claimed that he had begun to operate opposite Hizbullah for the release of the soldiers. With that, they say, they do hang some hopes.
Goldwasser's parents reiterated that "there still isn't any sign of life from the soldiers who were kidnapped." They also explained that "Olmert is not the one who sent our boys to patrol the border. The people of Israel did. Olmert may not be here tomorrow, but he's the one who needs to do everything to bring them back."
According to the family the government is undeniably making efforts to bring their son home, "but that is still not enough." Ehud's mother only asks to get a sign of life from her son: "I don't know if my son is alive, if he's alive but injured. What we're doing here is trying to send positive energy to strengthen Udi (Ehud's nickname), Eldad (Regev) and Gilad (Shalit)."
Dalia Noiman, who emceed the event, asked the Goldwassers what their opinion was about a monetary reward offered for information on the kidnapped soldiers. "We don't have the means to offer a reward, but maybe the state will offer it in the future," they said. Mickey said that she personally did not believe in financial rewards and Shlomo added that "The kidnappers don't need money, they have a lot of it. But if there are thoughts of offering one, the government should be the one to do it."
The government, with the support of private organizations, currently offers 10 million USD for information regarding MIA soldiers Ron Arad, Guy Hever and infantry soldiers missing from the battle of Sultan Yakoub in 1982.
The Goldwassers expressed their apprecations for the public's support: "Continue being with us, support us, continue to strengthen us so that the boys will come home." They were greeted with massive applause by the audience.
MK Amira Dotan (Labor) spoke at the event: "We won't bring the kidnapped soldiers home without the help of the international community. We must understand that our success against Hamas and Hizbollah depends on our ability to correct the failings uncovered by this last war."
AP contributed to the report
