Islam Times reports from the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that Noam Shalit, the father of Gilad Shalit – the Israeli soldier captured by Hamas during the 22-Day-War – discussed his meeting with Ehud Barak, Israel’s Minister of Defense. He said: “Unfortunately, the Israeli leaders are scared to trade Shalit for Palestinian prisoners due to their defeat in the 33-Day-War against Hizbollah.”
Noam Shalit continued: “Apparently no new measures have been taken by the Israeli officials to free my son. It is clear that they do not have a plan to free Shalit.”
Shalit’s father requested for his release to become a priority of the Israeli government.
Before this, Catherine Ashton, the EU Foreign Policy chief, met with Shalit’s family and announced that the Israeli government must lighten the pressure on the people of Gaza in order to be able to trade for Shalit.
Gilad Shalit was captured by resistance forces in 2006. Israel, despite its technological capabilities, has been unable to locate Shalit’s position since then. Israel is currently holding over 11 thousand Palestinian prisoners in 25 prisons.
© Islam Times
