The following remarks were made in a Sunday morning Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) interview with Amos Gilad, the head of the Defense Ministry’s diplomatic security bureau.

Gilad stated the ceasefire has brought months of peace and quiet to southern residents. “While there are those who may not appreciate the significance of this accomplishment, I am certain the southern area residents do appreciate the new reality.”

Defending the ceasefire agreement despite the fact that Shalit remains in Hamas hands, Gilad stated that the promise of Rafiah Crossing remaining closed did not refer to Egypt periodically opening the crossing due to the humanitarian realities that exist, but it referred to the fact the crossing will not become an international crossing flying the Hamas and Egyptian flags as Hamas leaders in Gaza had hoped. Gilad stressed that the pressure on Egypt is enormous and from time-to-time, the Egyptians are compelled to open the crossing for short periods of time.

The public must understand most of the time the crossing is closed but Egypt is under pressure and the crossing must be opened periodically as a result. “It is not an international crossing but it is opened to accommodate humanitarian needs.”

Gilad stated that prior to the ceasefire, there were no talks regarding the captive soldier, but today, this is not the case and efforts to obtain his release are ongoing, involving a number of parties.

Gilad stated that “we cannot give false hope to Noam and Aviva Shalit, but we must tell them the government is compelled to do everything possible to him Shalit home.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)