We have already stated in the past that Gilad must be returned for any price.
Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef has invited the parents of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit to come to his Jerusalem home on Monday morning. Shas chairman Eli Yishai will also be attending the meeting, as efforts for the release of Shalit continue.
Knesset Member Yaakov Margi stated that this is not the first time that the sage will meet Gilad’s parents. “Shas has always viewed Gilad Shalit with great responsibility. We have already stated in the past that Gilad must be returned for any price,” Margi told Ynet.
On the diplomatic front, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert invited Minister Rafi Eitan (Pensioners’ Party) to join the team working to secure the release of Gilad Shalit. “I aim to use the knowledge and experience he accrued over many years in the defense establishment. We are taking action on many fronts,” the Prime Minister stated.
Eitan, a former intelligence official, was responsible for recruiting and handling Jonathan Pollard.
Meanwhile, Minister of Transportation Shaul Mofaz warned Hamas's leader, Ismail Haniyeh, that he would not be able to move about freely if Gilad Shalit remained captive and issued a stern warning against Hamas.
"As long as Gilad Shalit does not see daylight, Haniyeh will not see daylight either," Mofaz stated, adding, “As long as Gilad Shalit is not free, Haniyeh will not be able to move freely in the streets of Gaza. I tell Hamas leaders – do not again make a mistake when it comes to us. Do not try to harden your position before negotiations on a (prisoner) exchange" involving Shalit, he said.
"The Israeli operation in Gaza has created better conditions to achieve the freeing of Gilad Shalit," Mofaz said a week into Israel’s war in Gaza.
Egypt has attempted to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas over an Arab prisoner release in return for Shalit. According to an al-Arabia network report on Sunday, Hamas has agreed to Egypt’s ceasefire initiatives. However, the terrorist organization demanded that the agreement not be conditional upon Shalit’s release.
Hamas also rejected Israel’s demand for Shalit’s release as a prerequisite for opening the Gaza crossings.
In a media statement, the Almagor Terror Victim association said, “The Israeli government must inform Egypt that it does not accept an agreement for the opening of crossings without the unconditional return of Shalit. In the agreement that the Egyptians are leading, the Egyptians are cooperating with the Palestinians to pressure Israel to free terrorists by means of Shalit.”
Almagor further stated that Shalit must be freed without Israel “releasing murderers of children and women.” Prime Minister Olmert has previously gone on record that a heavy price would have to be paid for Shalit’s release.