Egypt's foreign minister: Shalit to be freed soon
Foreign Minister Livni meets Egyptian counterpart in New York, hears optimistic assessment regarding release of kidnapped soldier. 'We'll bring him back,' Aboul Gheit promises
WASHINGTON – Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed optimism Monday evening regarding the prospects of Gilad Shalit's release. In a meeting with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in the United Nations headquarters in New York, Aboul Gheit said that Shalit will be freed within several days. "We'll bring him back," he pledged.
On Sunday, Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak also commented on the emerging deal for the kidnapped soldier's release, and said that Israel may release more Palestinian prisoners than expected as part of the swap.
"The outlines of the agreement, which is not yet complete, affirm the release of the Israeli prisoner in exchange for an initial large batch of women and children and then the release of Palestinian prisoners in three batches," the state news agency MENA said, quoting Mubarak speaking on Sunday night.
Earlier Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice promised Foreign Ministry Tzipi Livni that the United States will raise the issue of the Israeli kidnapped soldiers' release in every meeting held this week in the framework of the United Nations General Assembly.
Rice and Livni convened in New York, and are each set to meet separately with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later in the day.
In the meeting Livni asked that the subject of the kidnapped soldiers be raised in each of the American secretary of state's meetings, and Rice reassured her she will promote the matter. Rice also reiterated the US' stance, which calls for an unconditional release of the troops, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, in accordance with UN Resolution 1701, as well as for the freeing of Gilad Shalit.
