Shalit's grandfather meets Netanyahu in Knesset

Zvi Shalit scheduled to meet prime minister in his chamber Tuesday morning, but meeting eventually conducted in Knesset hours later due to plenum vote on dual-year budget

Amnon Meranda |Published: 06.22.10 , 15:28

Several says before his family embarks on a march to the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem, Zvi Shalit, the kidnapped soldier's grandfather, met with Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. The meeting, which was scheduled to be held in the prime minister's chamber in Jerusalem, was eventually held in the Kensset building.

Asked whether he is leaving the meeting optimistic, Shalit responded negatively and said, "I'm exhausted."

Shalit left his home in Kiryat Ata in the early morning hours to make it to Jerusalem in time to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at 10 am. However, due to a Knesset vote on the dual-year budget Netanyahu was forced to remain in the plenum. Shalit waited for the prime minister for several hours and it was eventually decided to conduct the meeting at the Knesset building.

On Monday, Noam and Aviva Shalit visited the Knesset. Gilad's father slammed Netanyahu a day after the government announced it would ease the restrictions on the Gaza blockade.

Shalit noted in anger that Netanyahu exclaimed the change of policy in a definitive tone, in front of Quartet envoy Tony Blair, as if saying "I have surrendered to international pressure."

"And where is Gilad in this whole story?" Shalit asked the participants, and mentioned that dozens of 'bargaining chips' were released on Sunday, including Hamas senior official Naif Rajoub.

"We are not surprised; it's yet another link in the government's chain of failures. Unfortunately four attempts to free Gilad have failed."

Zvi Shalit arriving at Knesset (Gil Yohanan)

Also on Monday, Netanyahu told the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that "my responsibility is to return (kidnapped soldier) Gilad Shalit to his family and people and to care for the security of all Israeli citizens. We will not agree to free prisoners to places from which they could murder Israelis."

Netanyahu mentioned that "immediately after taking office I appointed Hagai Hadas, and we brought in the German mediator. The next move was to obtain a videotape which proved to the world that Gilad is healthy and that Hamas is responsible for his wellbeing.

"In December 2009, the German mediator approached us with an offer for a deal of 450 Hamas prisoners and 550 prisoners as a gesture to Egypt. Hamas has yet to give an answer.