Amos Gilad, head of the Diplomatic-Security Bureau of Israeli Defense Ministry, is set to visit Cairo again tomorrow to discuss strengthening Egypt's patrolling of the Rafiach crossing with officials there. In a weekend television interview, Gilad said that Egypt's motivation and willingness to prevent Hamas smuggling from Sinai into Gaza was "unprecedented."
He also said that the recently completed IDF Operation Cast Lead had opened up "new methods and possibilities of freeing kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit that did not exist before." He said that to the best of his knowledge Gilad is still alive. "We received signs of life from him, but of course this must be checked at every moment to see if it is still correct. The state sent him, and the state must bring him home," he said.