Last update - 00:00 06/07/2007
Families of abducted IDF troops meet with EU, Red Cross leaders
By Ofer Dak, Haaretz Correspondent
The families of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldiers taking part in an advocacy mission in Europe met on Friday in Portugal with Vice President of the International Red Cross Leonard Martias.
The families requested the organization do more to attain proof of life of the soldiers and to assure that their medical needs are attended to.
Earlier on Friday the families met with the speaker of the Portuguese parliament, Jaime Gama, and asked that he make concerted efforts within the European Union, where Portugal holds the presidency, to assist in the freeing of the soldiers and to support a bill that would call for their immediate release.
The families will meet on Monday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysees Palace in Paris, where they are expected to request that Sarkozy use France?s strong ties to Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority to push for the soldier's release.
Kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, currently held in Gaza, holds dual Israeli and French citizenship, and the issue is expected to be brought to Sarkozy's attention to encourage stronger efforts on the part of France to free a French citizen from captivity.