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Ban. Expressing sympathy
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Noam Shalit after meeting with Ban
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Noam Shalit meets UN chief in Jerusalem

Shortly after completing tour of Gaza Strip Ban Ki-moon meets father of kidnapped soldier, who says UN chief expressed utmost sympathy and support for family's situation

Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, met Sunday in Jerusalem with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who had returned from a tour of the Gaza Strip.

 

Prior to the meeting, Shalit told Ynet that he hoped that the UN chief would be able to advance his son's negotiated release from Hamas captivity. However, he noted "We are not particularly optimistic."

 

At the end of their 15-minute meeting Shalit said that Ban had "expressed the utmost sympathy, support and understanding of our situation and the nightmare we are going through. On Saturday he called for an end to the prisoner deal."

 

Shalit further added that the UN chief said that Gilad's captivity for four years without rights is unacceptable to any person in the free world.


Shalit protest watch in the Erez crossing (Photo: AP)

 

During the meeting Ban promised he would continue urging for Shalit's release.

 

Noam Shalit further noted that "the secretary-general saw the people of Israel's support in the tent outside the prime minister's residence and took it to heart. He said that he would call world leaders once again to help in returning Gilad home."

 

Earlier on Sunday and upon his entrance to the Gaza Strip, the UN chief passed by a protest watch for Shalit's release in the Erez crossing.

 

In the Strip he was greeted by a group of protestors carrying Palestine flags. Ban said that by visiting the area he wished to demonstrate his solidarity with the Palestinian people's distress and to emphasize the need to lift the Gaza blockade, which is causing unbearable suffering.

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.21.10, 14:39
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