Paris joins struggle for release of IDF captives: Municipal officials in Paris inaugurated Friday a site dedicated to three abducted IDF soldiers Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser. T
he site was inaugurated at a park named after former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and features large photos of the three captives along with a caption that details the circumstances of their abduction.
Inauguration ceremony in Paris (Photo: Erez Lichtfeld)
"This is a nice gesture on the part of the Paris city hall, an important capital in the free world, which will assist in raising awareness to this issue," said Gilad Shalit's father, Noam, in a conversation with Ynet from France.
Relatives of the abducted soldiers said the display in Paris was an exceptional gesture. During the ceremony, Paris' mayor was presented with gifts in appreciation of the gesture – a bible translated to French and a medal of the Jerusalem city hall.
"In our previous meeting with Paris' mayor, we asked to display photos of our sons near city hall. The mayor was very attentive and promised to do something, and today he delivered," Noam Shalit said. "The photos have not been displayed near city hall, but they are located in a park where thousands of people and families visit every weekend."
"This is a significant gesture for us and it should not be taken for granted," Shalit added. "Gilad is indeed a French national, but Eldad and Udi are not, and what was done today touched us greatly."
Relatives of the captives who are visiting Paris for the fourth time since the soldiers were abducted expressed their great appreciation to the Jewish community in the French capital, and said they have been receiving constant support from it.
"We're talking about an incredibly warm Jewish community that has been able to promote and establish an amazing project," said Ehud Goldwasser's mother, Miki.
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