Last update - 00:00 01/04/2007
Abductee's mother: Efforts to free troops still at square one
By Haaretz Service
Miki Goldwasser, the mother of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Ehud Goldwasser, said Sunday efforts to release her son and fellow reserves corps soldier Eldad Regev, remain at square one since July 12 last year, the day they were kidnapped by Hezbollah.
Speaking on Israel Radio, Goldwasser said "Since the day of the abduction, as far as we're concerned, nothing has changed: We have not received a sign of life, we don't know anything..."
When asked if the state is doing enough to bring back the abductees, Goldwasser said "as far as I'm concerned enough will only be to have Udi [Ehud] back home, then I'll know they've done enough; until then I cannot be sure and cannot ascertain that enough is being done; there's always room for improvement, there's room for creativity, there's room for possibilities."
"I don't expect anything from this particular chief of staff or another. I have expectations, first of all, from the state, and second of all from the armed forces, so that the tenure of a specific army chief is of no relevance to me; the army is responsible for bringing Ehud, Eldad and Gilad back from captivity," she said.
Goldwasser said, however, that the Prime Minister's Office has been very prompt in responding to all their queries. "The moment we want to hear from the Prime Minister's Office we get a response," she said, adding that "when there's nothing to say nothing can be said"
Speaking about her meeting with incoming IDF Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, Miki Goldwasser said it was a perfunctory meeting for making mutual acquaintances.
"There weren't any significant statements, it was a relaxed introductory meeting; he wanted to get to know the people [abductees' family members]."
"We talked about things [pertaining to the abduction and release of the soldiers], me more than him, but only sporadically."
Ehud Goldwasser's mother also spoke of frustration and anger.
"I can't afford to be really angry, because that would be a waste of energy as far as I'm concerned. I need to be creative and I need to work, therefore I won't paralyze myself with anger," she said.
The abductees' families called Sunday on Jews worldwide to pray for their sons' wellbeing on Seder night, Israel Radio reported.
The prayer for the wellbeing of POWs and MIAs has been translated into English, French, Russian and Spanish, and is available on the Jewish Agency's Web site, the radio said.
"You don't exactly celebrate," she said, referring to the upcoming Passover holiday. "My heart will be heavy but we will do our best to make merry with the children. I will leave an empty chair to indicate someone's missing from Seder night," she said.
Goldwasser also addressed families that told her they will not celebrate the Passover to protest the absence of the abducted soldiers: "Please, this holiday is so significant for the people of Israel, it must be celebrated, commemorated and discussed."
"For those who want to express their support, I would be happy if they also left an empty chair," she pleaded.
She added said that some of the families that told her they do not wish to celebrate Seder are unrelated to her.
Describing Ehud and her connection with him, Miki Goldwasser said that "Life, from the moment of [Ehud's] birth to his abduction has been a single continuum of happiness."