In the state’s response to the Supreme Court petition filed by the Shalit family, the state on Sunday called on the nation’s highest court to reject the petition, maintaining the court does not have the right to intervene in a diplomatic process with a foreign entity.

The state also argued it is working constantly towards obtaining Gilad Shalit’s release, adding the agreement with Hamas is a political-security matter, one that was presented to and approved by the cabinet.

Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father, pleaded with the court, arguing that in the case of Ron Arad, too much time was wasted and today, we all see the result, 22 years later and Arad remains captive.

Mr. Shalit called upon the court to act in the interest of his son, stating that compelling the state to connect the opening of Gaza crossings to the release of Gilad would compel Hamas to come to the negotiating table, but this time, Israel would be acting from a position of power, not visa versa.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)