Tuesday, June 27, 2006

KIdnapped Soldier is a French Jew

French Ambassador in Israel S.E. Gerard Araud, went to Mitspe Hila in order to demonstrate his solidarity for the family of kidnapped soldier Guilad Shalit. Certain members of Shalit's family, it turns out, possess French citizenship (Guysen.Israël.News)

The kidnapped boy is French. Yes, dual citizen./Israeli - I saw this heartbreaking letter from the his family;

La famille Shalit a publié une lettre à l'attention de son fils Guilad enlevé dimanche 25 juin dans le sud de la bande de Gaza.

''Mon cher Guilad, Papa, Maman, Yoel et Hadas se font beaucoup de souci pour toi. Ils aimeraient beaucoup t'entendre et espèrent que tu es en bonne santé. Nous espérons que tu pourras lire ces lignes et nous voulons que tu saches que nous faisons tous les efforts pour que tu reviennes le plus vite possible, à la maison à Hila, en Galilée, dans ta famille et dans ta chambre qui t'attend. Nous pensons à toi et prions pour que tu surmontes cette dure épreuve. Nous savons que tes ravisseurs ont aussi une famille et ont conscience de ce que nous endurons et te garderont en bonne santé. Nous t'aimons et te soutenons. Papa et Maman''

French Ambassador in Israel S.E. Gerard Araud, went to Mitspe Hila in order to demonstrate his solidarity for the family of kidnapped soldier Guilad Shalit. Certain members of Shalit's family, it turns out, possess French citizenship (Guysen.Israël.News)

Apparently the French are working "furiously" with the Israelis to secure his release.

France said on Monday it was seeking the release of an Israeli-French soldier who was reportedly captured by an armed Palestinian group at the weekend, and had made contact with all parties involved.

"We are in contact with all the concerned parties to find a solution to this situation," deputy foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau told AFP.

Simonneau confirmed an announcement by Israeli army radio that the 20-year-old soldier, Gilad Shalit, had joint Israeli-French nationality and said French diplomatic services in Israel were already in touch with his family.

"Our embassy (in Tel Aviv) and our consulate general in Haifa (northern Israel) are taking action ... (and) have already made contact with his family by phone," Simmonneau said.

But Israel insists there are no "negotiations."

"This is not a matter of negotiations, this is not a matter of bargaining," Olmert said in a speech to the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem. Full article here

Story developing

No comments: