Friends and activists working towards the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit will be meeting on Sunday with Kadima leadership candidates Ministers Meir Sheetrit and Shaul Mofaz. According to their report, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who leads in the party race, refused to meet with them. The last candidate, Minister Avi Dichter, is planning to meet with them later in the week.
 
Livni explained she does not feel it is proper to involve the Shalit issue in the party leadership race and therefore, she declined to meet.  One of the leaders working towards Shalit’s release, Shai Shenkman, explained the Kadima race includes many issues, including the candidates’ position regarding efforts to obtain the release of the captive soldier.
 
“It is most unfortunate that one who seeks to become the next prime minister is unwilling to express her view on the issue,” added Shenkman. “Leaders seeking to run the nation are compelled to make their position known to the residents and citizens of the country regarding policies towards obtaining the release of captive soldiers.”

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)