Gilad Shalit's father to meet French president
Statement released by Elysée Palace says Sarkozy to meet with Noam Shalit as part of efforts to secure kidnapped soldier's release. French president recently asked Syrian leader Assad for sign of life from Israeli captive
A statement released Monday by the Elysée Palace said that the two would meet as part of the efforts to secure Shalit's release. The Israeli captive is also a French national.
The French president has expressed his commitment to the Shalit issue several times and has discussed the matter with Arab leaders.
Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz addressed the Shalit issue on Monday, conveying a message to the Hamas prime minister: "(Ismail) Haniyeh, while Gilad Shalit sees daylight, you too will not see daylight. Until Gilad Shalit walks around freely, you too – Haniyeh – and your friends will not walk around freely."
Sources at the Elysée Palace said at the beginning of the month that Sarkozy had raised the Shalit issue in his talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The two leaders met during the French president's visit to the region during the fighting in Gaza in a bid to reach a ceasefire.
"Sarkozy used the opportunity to talk to Bashar Assad about Gilad Shalit. He said he wants proof that he is alive," said the Elysée Palace source, adding that the French president "has turned this into a personal issue".
During his previous visit to Damascus, on September 4, Sarkozy gave Assad a letter written by Noam Shalit to his son, hoping that it would reach the captive soldier through Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal who resides in the Syrian capital.
