Addressing new recruits in the IDF’s Bakum Induction Center on Sunday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi stated that he prefers to leave talk of ongoing efforts to bring captive soldier Gilad Shalit home behind the scenes, relating to recent Arab media reports speaking of an agreement that has been reached that will result in his imminent release.

The IDF commander stated that today we all know that similar reports in the past have not ended as we hoped, stressing the nation has an obligation to bring the soldier home, adding “media reports of deals do nothing towards solving the situation”.

The IDF commander was on hand to greet the new November recruits, accompanied by members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs & Defense Committee.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)