Father of kidnapped soldier meets with Knesset Speaker Itzik, asks her to make sure his son is kept on State's agenda despite pending elections; also calls on PM to utilize remaining time in office to negotiate deal with Hamas
Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit,
called on outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
to take advantage of his time left in office until the upcoming elections in order to negotiate an accord releasing his son from captivity.
Letter From Home
Gilad Shalit receives 1st letter from family / Sharon Roffe-Ofir
Kidnapped soldier's father informed that letter handed to Syrian President Assad by French President Sarokozy has been delivered to captive held by Hamas in Gaza for more than two years. 'This made us happy,' Noam Shalit tells Ynet
During a meeting with Knesset Speaker MK Dalia Itzik on Sunday, Shalit said, "The prime minister still has four or five months in office, and that's enough time to fulfill his commitment to release Gilad."
Shalit asked Itzik to make sure that the probable political instability resulting from an impending nationwide election would not cause his son to fade from the State's consciousness.
Shalit was invited by Itzik to attend the opening of the Knesset's winter session, and will possibly participate in a Likud faction meeting.
According to reports, the soldier received the first letter from his family in over two years of captivity just a few days ago. The Elysee Palace in France confirmed that the letter
delivered by President Nicolas Sarkozy to Hamas' politbulo chief Khaled Mashaal, through Syrian President Bashar Assad, has reached its destination.
"I don't know what state he is in, but it's something he is getting from home in over two years and, yes, it makes us happy," Shalit said Friday.
When asked whether France may become the negotiating channel through which his son would be released Shalit responded, "I won't speculate, but certainly the letter will not bring about his release."
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