Dozens of family members and activists gathered at the Western Wall Wednesday evening to mark kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit's 23rd birthday, against the backdrop of recent reports of progress in the talks on his release. Hundreds of people joined them at the place, including Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau recited a prayer for Shalit's wellbeing and release. The soldier's father, Noam, said before the rally: "We are not optimistic. Had we been optimistic, we wouldn't have come here to pray."
Rabbi Lau said: "Gilad Shalit is so close to us, and yet so far away. For three years he and his family have been living in darkness, but also with great hope."
Head of the Shalit campaign headquarters Shimshon Libman stated: "We did not think we would mark another birthday of Gilad in captivity. We have been disappointed time and again, and I don't rejoice over the rumors. It's the outcome that matters."
Libman said he hoped Rabbi Lau's special prayer, which has also been printed on leaflets and distributed throughout the country, would encourage the prime minister "to make courageous decisions and bring Gilad home."
Gilad's parents with Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman at the rally (Photo: Guy Assayag)
The London-based Arabic-language al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaperreported Wednesdaythat "real progress" has been made in the negotiations aimed at securing the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, quoting Egyptian sources.
According to the sources, the progress made is not dramatic, but a change occurred due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strong desire to resolve the matter.
"We have no reason to believe that the recent reports on a deal for the release of Gilad Shalit are true," the headquarters for the Shalit campaign said in response.