Shas Minister Supports Shalit Deal

Religious Services Minister Yaakov Margi of Shas has expressed support for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's deal to release some 1000 terrorists for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Margi met with Noam Shalit, father of Gilad on Wednesday. After the meeting he said that "we have arrived at the point of decision whether to approve the transaction or not. I trust the Prime Minister, the Israeli Secret Service the Shin Bet, and the IDF Chief of Staff for taking into account all the complex considerations that went into the deal."



During the meeting the Minister also told Shalit, "You do not have to apologize for struggling to free your son from captivity. You have shown great nobility in this difficult period and I have but to strengthen you in these difficult days."