During a Friday meeting in Jerusalem’s American Colony Hotel with former US President Jimmy Carter, Mr. Noam Shalit, the father of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, presented Carter with a letter in which he and his wife Aviva wrote to their son, soon about to mark three years in Hamas captivity. Shalit declined to reveal the content of the letter.

When asked if he believes the letter will actually be handed to his son, he stated he is not “optimistic or pessimistic, but realistic”. He explained there is no hidden hostile message, just a letter from parents to their son whom they have not seen for three years.
Carter arrived in Israel from Damascus, but did not bring new information regarding Shalit.

Mr. Shalit pointed out that Carter maintains an open channel with Hamas and he hopes the former president uses his connections to advance efforts to obtain Gilad’s release, adding today he may also have more influence in Washington, with the new administration.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)