News of Shalit Deal in Progress
Gilad Shalit was born to parents Aviva and Noam Shalit on August 28, 1986 in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya. He was raised in the town of Mitzpe Hila and joined a combat tank unit in July 2005 for his army service, in which he served until his capture by Hamas terrorists in a cross-border raid. Since June 25, 2006, 23-year-old Israeli soldier and citizen, Gilad Shalit, has been held a prisoner of Hamas. I was born in July 1987. Despite our proximity in age, the length and circumstances of Gilad's captivity remain both disquieting and unreal, and my thoughts remain with the Shalit family. In the resolution in "Support of Israel" passed at the URJ Biennial in Toronto earlier this month, we resolved to "[c]ontinue to advocate for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit."
Beginning this weekend and continuing today, news sources indicate that Israel and Hamas are, at long last, nearing a deal that would involve the exchange of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for Shalit's freedom.
Most recently, Haaretz reported that a German mediator will facilitate discussions with a Hamas delegation in Cairo in the near future. Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have been somewhat hesitant to confirm or deny progress toward an agreement, but "reports circulating of late have predicted an imminent deal."
The sensitivity of the situation has led Prime Minister Netanyahu and others to advocate for caution and discretion, as he emphasized to a Likud party meeting today: "There is no deal yet, and when there will be, it will be brought for debate in the Knesset and voted on in the cabinet." Netanyahu and his government have also received criticism over the plan to release prisoners with acts of terrorism and violence on their records.
As more concrete news regarding a final deal develops, we continue to pray that these renewed diplomatic efforts can, at last, deliver Gilad home safely.
The sensitivity of the situation has led Prime Minister Netanyahu and others to advocate for caution and discretion, as he emphasized to a Likud party meeting today: "There is no deal yet, and when there will be, it will be brought for debate in the Knesset and voted on in the cabinet." Netanyahu and his government have also received criticism over the plan to release prisoners with acts of terrorism and violence on their records.
As more concrete news regarding a final deal develops, we continue to pray that these renewed diplomatic efforts can, at last, deliver Gilad home safely.