_a.jpg "צילום: ירון ברנר")
Noam Shalit unimpressed with PM Olmert
Photo: Yaron Brener
Noam Shalit: No creativity, determination in talks to free Gilad
Father of abducted IDF soldier blasts PM Olmert over lack of progress in negotiations
The talks aimed at securing the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit lack determination and creativity, the captive's father said Tuesday.
'In our case, I did not see the effectiveness, determination, and creativity in negotiations…I did not see it when the prime minister assumed it upon itself," Noam Shalit said at a conference on the issue of captives held at Bar-Ilan University.
"After two years we told the prime minister – when it comes to achieving results, you failed, and we're turning to the public so the public can decide," Noam Shalit said. Addressing the list of prisoners which Hamas seeks to release in exchange for Gilad, his father said: "It seems to me wholly unreasonable that you tell a terror organization: 'Give me the names.' I completely fail to grasp this."
"We are sitting here in the academic ivory tower and trying to come up with all sorts of ideas, but we should try to place ourselves for a moment in the situation of that captive…sitting at some unknown and dark basement, and then raise the issues and discuss them more objectively," Shalit said.
PM Olmert addressed Monday the prospects of a future deal for Shalit's release: "The negotiations for Shalit are being finalized, and the solution won't be simple, easy or quick. Difficult decisions will have to be made here as well."
