Former POWs: Shalit tape encouraging

VIDEO - “Gilad Shalit received an enormous motivational boost, now he knows he’s going home,” Lieutenant Colonel (res.) Tzvika Vered said Monday.

Vered, a former Israeli air force pilot, spent eight months in captivity during the Yom Kippur War.

“Shalit knows now that a huge step was taken and it’s only a matter of time until his release. No matter how long it takes, the most important thing is that he is alive.”

Vered explained that the most important thing for a captive is that their country knows they are still alive.

“I was considered missing for four and a half months, and I was disconnected, I didn’t even know how the war ended. The minute the Red Cross came, I knew it would be alright.

“I’m sure the thing that has worried him most until now was whether anyone even know about his situation. Now he knows for sure. The question of whether he’s coming back or not has been answered for him,” he said.

Like most people who listened to Shalit’s recorded message released by his captors Monday afternoon, Vered tried to analyze the contents of the message, as well as the way the soldier spoke.

He said the most positive sign in the tape was the fact that Shalit did not stutter.

“Anyone speaking to his family for the first time, injured in prison, battered and bruised, can’t speak without stuttering. The unhesitant message is definitely heaven sent, and a tremendous consolation to his family, it is a very important sign of life,” Vered said.

Based on his experience as a prisoner of war in Syria, Vered said he had no doubt that the opportunity given to Shalit to address his family would serve as a morale booster that will help him deal with captivity.

'Greatest wish fulfilled'

Effie Talbi, a paratrooper who fell captive during the first Lebanon war and managed to escape after 10 days, said a prisoner’s greatest wish is to contact his or her family.

“When I was being held by terrorists, I had a strong urge to call home and say to my parents, ‘I’m alive and getting by; don’t worry’, just so they’ll know I’m okay,” he said.

“The helplessness is the most difficult thing to cope with. Now Shalit’s condition is much better – we know he is held captive by them and that he is alive.”

Talbi continued to say that “the problem is that we’re dealing with scoundrels who do not abide by international law, including the Geneva Convention.

“From the message I could tell that they are pressuring Shalit to pressure the government into moving things forward.”

As for Shalit’s mental state, Talbi said, “Even if captivity is hard, the will to live and the hope that a prisoner exchange deal is near will keep him alive.”