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Last update - 20:50 12/03/2009
Teens to Olmert: Enlisting in IDF tougher with Shalit in captivity
By Jack Khoury and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Hamas, Israel News 

A group of Israeli teenagers have sent Prime Minister Ehud Olmert a letter warning that his government's failure to secure the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has made enlisting for military service more difficult for them.

"We find our enlisting in the IDF much more difficult knowing that Gilad Shalit has been forsaken in captivity and not returned to his parents," wrote the teens, who recently visited a protest tent pitched by Shalit's family opposite the Prime Minister's residence.

"When he was abducted, he was a kid, like us," they added. "Most of us are high school students, and we look forward to joining the army and serving our country. As future soldiers, we would like to be certain that if one of us is taken captive, the government will do whatever it takes to bring him back."
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Olmert, for his part, said on Thursday that he was praying for Shalit's imminent return.

"I ask God to help me be the one who would bring Gilad Shalit home over the next few days," he said.

Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a 2006 cross-border raid. Senior Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel is currently holding indirect talks via Egyptian mediation with Hamas in Cairo to reach an agreement with the Islamic group over the soldier's release.

In the letter, the teenagers further wrote: "We, who have been staying here for three days and nights, feel that we have to do whatever we can to secure Gilad's release. We know that quite a bit of effort has been made to bring him back, and that it is no less important for you than it is for us.

"It's not going to be an easy decision, but you must bear in mind that Gilad is still alive."

On Wednesday, Noam Shalit, the father of the abducted soldier, urged Hamas to reach an agreement with Israel over a prisoner swap that will include his son, saying the current offer was the best they will get.


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      1.   We Do not need more Shalits 17:18  |  Baruch Gold 12/03/09
      2.   if I were shalit, I would prefer not returning 17:58  |  Joey 12/03/09
      3.   joey - tough talking nonsense 19:18  |  simon doerksen 12/03/09
      4.   #2 and #3 are both right 20:25  |  Baruch Gold 12/03/09
      5.   to # 1 22:16  |  Antonio da Silva 12/03/09
      6.   to @2 22:17  |  Antonio da Silva 12/03/09
      7.   Shalit 23:33  |  jrl 12/03/09
      8.   But kids! 00:03  |  Jim 13/03/09
      9.   So speaks Zahar 02:02  |  Jim 13/03/09
      10.   #2, Joey, talk is cheap... 02:23  |  Silvienne 13/03/09
      11.   Get him back! 02:28  |  AJ 13/03/09
      12.   Shalit? 05:39  |  Rohan 13/03/09
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