Vilnai: Israel must pay price
Photo: Yaron Brener
Vilnai: Some Shalit abductors died in 'unfortunate accidents'
Home front defense minister says 'even Haniyeh doesn't know where Gilad Shalit is being held'
Many of Gilad Shalit's abductors have died in "unfortunate accidents" over the past five years, Minister for Home Front Defense Matan Vilnai said Wednesday.
"All those who were involved in the abduction need not concern themselves with finding a retirement home," he added. "They won't make it there."
The minister says that even many of Hamas's senior operatives don't know where the kidnapped soldier is being held, and many of those who did know are no longer among the living.
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"Even Haniyeh and the Hamas chief of staff don't know where Gilad is being held. Those who know are only the small group holding him. A large part of this group is no longer with us – due to unfortunate accidents."
Vilnai was adamant that "if we don't have the ability to get Shalit, we must pay the heavy price with the release of murderers in order to bring him home".
However, he added, "Some of the protests held for Gilad's release harm negotiations for his release".
IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz also addressed the issue of Gilad Shalit on Tuesday, stressing that public discussion of how to free the captive soldier "is not right."
He said that he met with Shalit's family a week after he became IDF chief, and promised them that he will do whatever it takes to bring back their son.
"The State of Israel is committed to making every effort to return the soldier Gilad Shalit home," he said.
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