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Last update - 13:28 07/07/2009
Mubarak: Gilad Shalit is in good condition
By The Associated Press
Tags: Hosni Mubarak, Egypt 

Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who is being held captive in Gaza by Hamas militants, is in good condition, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said on Tuesday.

The Egyptian president added that he hopes the issue of the soldier's release will be resolved soon.

Mubarak's comments came during a news conference Tuesday with President Shimon Peres, who was visiting Cairo. Shalit has been held in Gaza for more than three years by militants who tunneled into Israel and launched a raid against an IDF position along the Israel-Gaza border.
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The 22-year-old Israeli sergeant has not been seen since, and Hamas has prevented the Red Cross from visiting him. Egypt has been mediating attempts to arrange a swap of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants involved in attacks, for the soldier.

When Mubarak was asked about Shalit, he answered: "Communications are ongoing. Shalit is in good condition. I hope that in the coming period, not in a long time, the Shalit issue will be closed."

Peres's visit was designed to discuss efforts to free Shalit as well as ways to promote a regional peace agreement.

Egypt and Jordan are the only Arab nations to have signed a peace agreement with Israel.

Both Mubarak and Peres emphasized that there is a good opportunity for peace.

"We cannot miss this opportunity. The differences between us are not that great that they cannot be overcome," Peres said. He also emphasized Israel's commitment to the two-state solution and said that Israel did not intend to build new settlements.

"Israel has no intention to rule over the Palestinian people. We have no intention to confiscate land, and we have no intention to build new settlements," he said. He did not address the issue of building within existing settlements, which has been a key point of contention between Israel and the United States.

The United States has been pushing for a freeze on all settlement building while the Israeli government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been arguing for the right to build within existing settlements to allow for growing families.

The presidency in Israel is largely a ceremonial role but Peres' high stature and the controversial reputation of the current Israeli foreign minister who has been shunned by Egypt after he cursed Mubarak for not visiting Israel means the Israeli president's visit takes on a greater diplomatic significance.

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      1.   Did Mubarak see him? 13:44  |  Avi 07/07/09
      2.   I feel so much better 14:01  |  jackie 07/07/09
      3.   Avi #1: Hamas cares a lot more about International Laws 14:08  |  Paul 07/07/09
      4.   @ 1 nice idea Hamas pulling the wool over Mubarak`s eyes! 14:17  |  Jew-and Bookburner 07/07/09
      5.   Avi surely you meant to say Israel as it keeps breaking it 14:21  |  carla 07/07/09
      6.   Shalit IS well, or is BELEIVED to be well? 14:38  |  Sammy 07/07/09
      7.   @Avi 15:32  |  ILias 07/07/09
      8.   To Ari (1) 15:39  |  Magnus K 07/07/09
      9.   Is Egypt complicit? 16:52  |  utagawa 07/07/09
      10.   To Magnus (8) 16:55  |  Sammy 07/07/09
      11.   #5 Carla - London 17:36  |  *BEN JABO 07/07/09
      12.   # 8 17:54  |  Abu Muhtar 07/07/09
      13.   Liberating kidnapped Israeli soldiers. 18:08  |  B. Gold 07/07/09
      14.   #10 Sammy 19:05  |  Space 07/07/09
      15.   I hope he is right 19:30  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/09
      16.   mubarek says................ 19:40  |  Connie 07/07/09
      17.   Easy proof of what Mubarak claims 20:41  |  *BEN JABO 07/07/09
      18.   Mubarak 20:53  |  Brod 07/07/09
      19.   Now I can sleep at night, NOT. Mubarak has inside info, LOL. 22:01  |  4:20 07/07/09
      20.   1 Israeli soldier captured during war raises such 02:45  |  john Spear 08/07/09
      21.   Mr. Mubarak: You lost a grandchild. Can you help? 03:08  |  Fortuna Benmayor 08/07/09
      22.   #20 John Spear 11:39  |  *BEN JABO 09/07/09
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