JERUSALEM/PARIS (EJP)---Israels is counting on Egypt to bring about the release of its kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
This message was brought Tuesday in Cairo by Israel’s Defense Minister Ehud Barak to Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.
"Israel considers Egypt to be the sole mediator in the negotiations for Shalit's release," Barak said Monday.
The Israeli minister and the Egyptian president discussed the issue during a meeting in Alexandria.
Barak said the return of Shalit occupies a place of prime importance on Israel's national agenda and that the Jewish state views Egypt as a central factor in his return.
Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinians during a cross-border raid on an Israeli army base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
According to the Israeli press, the minister was expected to bring up recent messages relayed by Cairo according to which it plans to finalize an agreement between Israel and Hamas for Shalit's release by November.
In Paris, Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father, met last Friday with Jean-David Levitte, French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s diplomatic advisor.
Stephane Zerbib, the Parisian lawyer who represents the interests of Gilad’s family, along with his colleague Emmanuel Altit, said Noam Shalit’s trip to France was aimed at asking the French authorities what they are doing for his son.
“We don't know what is the weight of the French authorities. Only the Egyptians are mediating,” Zerbib told EJP.
| |
|
The two French lawyers of the Shalit family, Stephane Zerbib (L) and Emmanuel Altit (R) with Noam Shalit, Gilad's father.
|
Shalit, who has dual Israeli and French citizenship, like his son, had also talks at the French foreign ministry.
In July, after the release of Ingrid Betancourt, a French-Colombian former presidential candidate held hostage by guerillas, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Shalit’s parents that he “didn’t forget Gilad.”
During his visit to Israel in June, Sarkozy met with Noam Shalit and his wife Aviva.
The two French lawyers are expected to travel soon to Cairo in order to meet again the Egyptian negotiators.
Zerbib told EJP they have been invited by Hamas to Gaza earlier this year but the trip was canceled after Israel bombed Gaza following the launch by the Palestinians of a missile on a commercial center in the Israeli city of Ashkelon.
“We are still in contact with them and we will travel to Gaza on a next possible occasion,” he said.
“Mobilizing the public opinion is important to call for the release of Gilad Shalit.”
Asked if he hoped for a quick release, Zerbib said: “We always have the hope. It’s long, it is not easy, there are a lot of actors.”
In Israel, the public campaign for Gilad Shalit’s safe return is preparing to celebrate Wednesday the soldier's third birthday in captivity, under a new slogan, “Gilad is still alive.”
The main event honoring Shalit's 22nd birthday will take place on Thursday in Mitzpe Hila, the Shalit family's place of residence.
