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Last update - 00:00 09/06/2008
Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter
By Barak Ravid and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents and The Associated Press
Tags: Gilad Shalit, Khaled Meshal 

The family of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit received on Monday a new sign of life, in the form of a letter, two years after he was kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

Shalit was kidnapped from his IDF post by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006.

The one-page letter was identified as having been written by Shalit, and it referred to a number of recent events, which suggest that it was composed recently.
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The abducted soldier's father Noam told Haaretz on Monday that in the letter Gilad begs for his life and requests that efforts be made to secure his release as soon as possible. Noam Shalit refused, however, to reveal any more of the letter's contents.

The letter from the kidnapped soldier was received by fax at the Carter Center in Ramallah on Sunday night, and was then transferred to the Shalit family in Israel.

Hamas' Damascus-based political leader Khaled Meshal told former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in April he would allow the soldier to send his family a letter as a humanitarian gesture.

In its announcement Monday, the Carter Center said that "President Carter and his team will try to arrange the transfer of a letter in response from [Shalit's] parents to Gilad Shalit in the near future."

Noam Shalit also said that the new sign of life is not evidence of any progress in talks to free his son.

"This is better than nothing, but it doesn't relax us, and it doesn't change the fact that Gilad has been in captivity for almost two years and it doesn't look like there is any progress in the contacts for Gilad's release," the soldier's father stated.

Prior to Monday's letter, the Shalits had received two letters and a taped message from Gilad.

A senior Jerusalem source stressed that the transfer of the new sign of life was believed to be part of Hamas' efforts to achieve a cease-fire with Israel in Gaza.

The source added that Hamas is attempting to frame the move as a goodwill gesture, and that the Islamic militant group hopes it will lead Israel to drop its demand that negotiations for Shalit's release be included in talks for a Gaza truce.

Efforts to gain the release of Shalit have been frozen, in part because of a near complete halt in Egyptian mediation. Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian chief of intelligence, told his counterparts in Israel that an agreement for a truce in Gaza would enable the resumption of Egyptian mediation.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni are set to meet on Tuesday to discuss a proposed Egyptian-brokered cease-fire with Gaza militant groups.

Substantial differences between sides on Shalit deal

At this stage the differences between the two sides in negotiations to free Shalit are substantial. Hamas has given Israel a list of 450 Palestinian prisoners being held in Israel whom it wants released, but Israel has only approved 70 of those names.

As for the rest of the prisoners, Israel refuses to consider freeing them because it argues they have murdered Israelis.

A member of the Hamas politburo, Mohammed Nizal, said Monday the issue of Shalit is on hold and has not been raised in recent discussions because of Israel's stance, which, he claims, rejects any attempt to reach a solution.

In an interview from Damascus to radio Al-Shams, broadcasting from Nazareth, Nizal rejected reports that there were differences within Hamas that are preventing progress toward a deal on Shalit.

Nizal maintains there is agreement among all Palestinians factions on this issue, adding that the problem "is Israel, where Barak and Livni are preventing progress, and are foiling any attempt to reach agreement on this matter, in an effort, first and foremost, to undermine Prime Minister Ehud Olmert."

The senior Hamas official also said that in the coming days there is no meeting planned between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas politburo chief Khaled Meshal. He also denied reports of an upcoming Meshal visit to Cairo for talks on a possible Shalit deal.

In reference to the internal Palestinian dialogue, Nizal said Hamas was cautious about the declarations being made by the PA president. He said Hamas was not the problem: "We are always ready for dialogue but Abu Mazen [Abbas] is posing preconditions for negotiations that are not leading anywhere."

He also reiterated a Hamas warning to Israel against a possible large-scale incursion into the Gaza Strip: "We do not wish for a military operation in the Gaza Strip but if it happens, we are prepared and Israel will pay a heavy price."



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      1.   Free all jailed 11,000 Palestinians 21:33  |  MOE 09/06/08
      2.   Hamas is not a terrorist organization 22:05  |  KMS 09/06/08
      3.   KMS-"Hamas-Liberating Who From What?" 22:32  |  Albert 09/06/08
      4.   Correction Haaretz. 22:37  |  Cool B 09/06/08
      5.   HAMAS IS GREAT, GREAT, GREAT! 22:39  |  Mohamed MALLECK 09/06/08
      6.   KMS - Wow... One gesture... Its means nothing. Hamas will 22:40  |  a 09/06/08
      7.   Right-wing Israel, wanna do some more Carter "bashing"....???? 22:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 09/06/08
      8.   Hamas is a terrorist organization 22:50  |  Lourdes 09/06/08
      9.   re Albert #2 23:03  |  Colin Wright 09/06/08
      10.   Well at least this is news is your country 23:12  |  Aphemia 09/06/08
      11.   Swiss Dino 23:33  |  George Kaplan 09/06/08
      12.   humanitarian hamas 23:37  |  odles 09/06/08
      13.   Israel cannot afford to have Shalit released 23:45  |  Tosefta 09/06/08
      14.   #5 Dino 23:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/06/08
      15.   Of course hamas is a terrorist org. Thats why the kidnapped him 00:02  |  Avram 10/06/08
      16.   KMS Hamas not terrorists 00:02  |  Bill H. 10/06/08
      17.   Wow. Carter can moved mountains! Just like when... 00:08  |  Richard S 10/06/08
      18.   Hamas is not a terrorist organization 00:08  |  Isaac Leal 10/06/08
      19.   #1 and #3, are you both retarded??? 00:09  |  DR 10/06/08
      20.   Hamas and Israel Should Stop Using Human Emotions to serve their 00:13  |  Ray 10/06/08
      21.   Hamas is GREAT, GREAT, GREAT-NOT!!! 00:20  |  Albert 10/06/08
      22.   Dino-Carter and Jihad 00:23  |  Albert 10/06/08
      23.   Prisoner Gilad Shalit 00:40  |  A woman 10/06/08
      24.   #1 KMS 00:50  |  Jim 10/06/08
      25.   #3 Mohamed Malleck 01:15  |  Jim 10/06/08
      26.   #5 Swiss Dino 01:37  |  Jim 10/06/08
      27.   #8 Jim -- Thanks 01:43  |  Mohamed MALLECK 10/06/08
      28.   Gilad must be freed from that hellhole! 02:26  |  Free Gilad Shalit 10/06/08
      29.   Policy based on prisoners 02:33  |  ZADOK 10/06/08
      30.   The ball is in your court Israel. 02:42  |  Maureen Ann 10/06/08
      31.   #28 As usual, your premise does not lead to the right conclusion 02:55  |  McQueen 10/06/08
      32.   Hamas are bloodthirsty barbarians 03:01  |  Nechama 10/06/08
      33.   I wonder who mr.peanut head office wrote the letter. 03:04  |  zev 10/06/08
      34.   As a my heart bleeds for the Gilad`ds mother but 04:02  |  lydia 10/06/08
      35.   Negotiation 101 04:06  |  Zealot 10/06/08
      36.   #13 Tosefta 04:09  |  Jim 10/06/08
      37.   Why ???? 04:53  |  A Woman 10/06/08
      38.   Mohamed MALLECK - Most Muslims Are Intelligent People, but you 04:54  |  Moral Not Rocks 10/06/08
      39.   # 34 Negotiation 101 : VERY ELOQUENT! 05:18  |  Mohamed MALLECK 10/06/08
      40.   Hamas and more are terrorist, ask their women 05:38  |  JewGirl 10/06/08
      41.   Carter got a payback with this letter 05:50  |  AngryJewGirl 10/06/08
      42.   go thank carter! 05:51  |  bashar 10/06/08
      43.   What a sad situation 05:59  |  Kate 10/06/08
      44.   Blame Carter, Shame Yourself 06:24  |  Bob 10/06/08
      45.   #7 Swiss(Dino) - Glad you`re excited about the letter... 06:27  |  JP 10/06/08
      46.   Release Palestinian Prisoners 06:43  |  Shahid 10/06/08
      47.   Israel is the terrorirst state not HAMAS 06:45  |  FREE MAN 10/06/08
      48.   LYDIA BRISBANE ..re yor heart bleeds 06:55  |  Axelrod 10/06/08
      49.   10 Aphemia - Matt Maupin No Longer MIA 06:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/06/08
      50.   I don`t understand.... 06:58  |  David Cohen 10/06/08
      51.   # 42 unfortunately bob, the point is forever lost... 07:38  |  eric 10/06/08
      52.   #1 Moe 08:18  |  Mae White 10/06/08
      53.   Mohammed 08:20  |  Mae White 10/06/08
      54.   Poor kid is used 08:45  |  Denise 10/06/08
      55.   Hamas afraid of IDF entering Gaza they want status quo 09:02  |  Arthur 10/06/08
      56.   Just a LETTER.....? 09:02  |  Dagma 10/06/08
      57.   A GIFT FROM HAMAS, A GOOD WILL GESTURE 09:20  |  Indrajaya 10/06/08
      58.   Spare us, Mohammed 09:20  |  Linichka 10/06/08
      59.   There`s a very simple answer to Shalit`s detention 09:21  |  Clickfool 10/06/08
      60.   letter is part of a psychological warfare 09:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/06/08
      61.   # 11 George Kaplan 09:30  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/06/08
      62.   # 14 Chris Linthwaite 09:38  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/06/08
      63.   Release of Gilad Shalit 09:50  |  Barrieg 10/06/08
      64.   # 22 Albert 09:51  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/06/08
      65.   EXCHANGE SHALIT FOR GARTER 09:56  |  MOHAMED 10/06/08
      66.   # 26 Jim 09:56  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/06/08
      67.   #59, fool, it has nothing to do with Olmert`s ego 10:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 10/06/08
      68.   #41 Angry Jew Girl 10:06  |  Jim 10/06/08
      69.   #41 Angry Jew Girl 10:06  |  Jim 10/06/08
      70.   # 45 JP 10:07  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/06/08
      71.   For Cipora # 67 10:09  |  Clickfool 10/06/08
      72.   #50 David Cohen 10:34  |  Jim 10/06/08
      73.   Terrorists 10:49  |  Linichka 10/06/08
      74.   #66 Swiss Dino 10:51  |  Jim 10/06/08
      75.   #3 Hamas can`t remove a few roadblocks from the WB 11:01  |  Outsider 10/06/08
      76.   To Cipora Julianna Kohn # 60 - Stupid Israel. WHY..... 11:03  |  Dolly 10/06/08
      77.   NEXT TIME 11:07  |  indrajaya 10/06/08
      78.   #59 Clickfool 11:12  |  Jim 10/06/08
      79.   Linichka 11:30  |  tommy 10/06/08
      80.   tommy 11:46  |  Linichka 10/06/08
      81.   The IDF Soldier`s life and Haaretz 12:17  |  Ricardo Kolbe 10/06/08
      82.   A PLEA TO OLMERT 12:21  |  Nicole 10/06/08
      83.   Freeing murderers of civilians 12:23  |  Jo 10/06/08
      84.   81: Kolbe`s German ignorance and the difference in prisoners 12:58  |  David Teich 10/06/08
      85.   For the first time in Palestinian history there is a determined, 15:43  |  lakshmi 10/06/08
      86.   Gain favor with the world, just let Gilad go home. 15:45  |  Watching 10/06/08
      87.   Militants? 15:56  |  JordanisPalestine 10/06/08
      88.   shalit gilad 16:07  |  Harald 10/06/08
      89.   # 77 INDY....at least a visit from the Red Cross 16:10  |  Lynn 10/06/08
      90.   #5 Muhamad 16:10  |  Abu Halil bin yusuf 10/06/08
      91.   And Olmert Says 16:27  |  Sumanto 10/06/08
      92.   Hamas is a terrorist organisation and must be destroyed 16:35  |  Mordecai Ben Natan 10/06/08
      93.   # 87, LYNN 16:51  |  indrajaya 10/06/08
      94.   #1 Moe the comedian,#2 Kms,swiss dino eating too much chocolate 17:48  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      95.   #78 Dear Jim, releasing Murderers in Israeli Jails is a GR8 Idea 18:09  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      96.   #83 Jo right , and they forgot about Udi Goldwasser, Eldad Regev 18:13  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      97.   Constraints on the Hamas - Abbas dispute (Jim #36) 18:29  |  Tosefta 10/06/08
      98.   What About the Two Soldiers in Lebanon? 18:32  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      99.   Terrible agony for the Shalit`s, and many Palestinian families ! 18:44  |  Toronto`s Finest 10/06/08
      100.   #97 Tosefta 18:48  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      101.   #70 Swiss(Dino) - Gambling with Israeli Lives Isn`t Your Right 18:57  |  JP 10/06/08
      102.   # 84, - Mr. Shalit Jr.- Lebanon 19:05  |  Ricardo Kolbe 10/06/08
      103.   #70 Swiss(Dino) - Pt. II 19:09  |  JP 10/06/08
      104.   Robert/Montreal, most think they are dead 19:16  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      105.   #62 Swiss(Dino) Not Following the Plot 19:31  |  JP 10/06/08
      106.   "Lilly White" BSNews 19:41  |  JP 10/06/08
      107.   #104 I believe they are dead , the cowards Hes were afraid 19:46  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      108.   liberation 19:47  |  joseph 10/06/08
      109.   Swiss (Dino) 20:01  |  Connie 10/06/08
      110.   #108 Joseph What Occupation? 20:14  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      111.   #30 2ND TRY Maureen Ann 20:23  |  * BEN JABO 10/06/08
      112.   Let him Beg.. The Palestinians have been begging for 60yrs 20:26  |  POP 10/06/08
      113.   Stop lying Robert 21:03  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      114.   Robert, ya made me sputter my sweet tea over this one... 21:09  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      115.   !!#113 What is the matter with you bbs 21:30  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      116.   JP on "realism" 21:34  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      117.   Sorry BBS but your info is outdated 21:36  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      118.   #106 Hope BBs read your post JP 21:38  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      119.   BSnews - Why are you evading?? 21:38  |  * BEN JABO 10/06/08
      120.   #111 Mareen Ann Have the courage of your convictions 21:40  |  * BEN JABO 10/06/08
      121.   JP to Swiss 21:58  |  David Israel 10/06/08
      122.   shalit 22:17  |  john 10/06/08
      123.   Connie on Carter... 22:18  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      124.   #116 22:28  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      125.   Hi Benjabo #120 Have you heard any news on 22:32  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      126.   Funny I answered BBS and he decided not to respond 22:35  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      127.   You first Robert... 22:53  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      128.   Uhhh Robert? 22:56  |  BBSNews 10/06/08
      129.   bbs can`t you read? I posted it way back 23:24  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      130.   BBS are all haters in here as insulting as you are? 23:27  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      131.   BBs well I am off from here 23:32  |  Robert/Montreal 10/06/08
      132.   Cut off all humanitarian aid until Shalit released 23:35  |  Realist 10/06/08
      133.   Moe #1 Care to name them & their crimes 00:09  |  Free Gilad Shalit 11/06/08
      134.   # 109 Connie 00:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/06/08
      135.   # 101 / 103 JP 00:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/06/08
      136.   #117, Robert/Montreal...speaking for the world again 00:30  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      137.   # Clickfool welcome back 00:31  |  Labhras 11/06/08
      138.   #126, Robert/Montreal... 00:32  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      139.   poor shalit 00:44  |  keith brand 11/06/08
      140.   What is terror? 00:47  |  International Banker 11/06/08
      141.   #125 Robert/Montreal - why ask me? 00:59  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      142.   #127 BSnews to Robert 01:07  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      143.   #116 - BSNews Not Following His Own "Story" 01:09  |  JP 11/06/08
      144.   #128 BSnews - No fellow, it was you that is discredited 01:11  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      145.   #123 01:15  |  Connie 11/06/08
      146.   #131 - Swiss(Dino) - The Return of The Point of no Return 01:18  |  JP 11/06/08
      147.   #128 BBS News--well ouch, ouch!!! 01:38  |  ballistic 11/06/08
      148.   Cool B Haaretz is correct. 01:46  |  RW 11/06/08
      149.   JP on "posing" 02:07  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      150.   Ballistic on BJ 02:10  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      151.   #111 Ben Jabo. You already said you legally carry a gun... 02:12  |  Maureen Ann 11/06/08
      152.   Connie and Ronnie and hostages oh my... 02:21  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      153.   MOE, Shahid 02:29  |  RW 11/06/08
      154.   TO SWISS DINO, eric 04:00  |  RACHEL USA 11/06/08
      155.   BSnew - aka/ $3 bill /still waiting 04:08  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      156.   Ben Jabo...I posted a reply to the 10 people quest 04:36  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      157.   #136, Connie & Carter... 04:37  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      158.   RACHEL on the fact is... 04:37  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      159.   Maureen Ann... 04:42  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      160.   Silvienne 05:39  |  Connie 11/06/08
      161.   Connie... 06:16  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      162.   MOE SEND letters from Pal prisoners in Israel 06:23  |  PETER SM 11/06/08
      163.   MALLECK "Values" Like lynching the Israeli reservists in Ramle? 06:29  |  PETER SM 11/06/08
      164.   #148 Silvienne Not all America voted for George... 06:29  |  Maureen Ann 11/06/08
      165.   Silvienne on BJ 06:40  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      166.   MALLEK`GREAT" to share values with brother Samir Kuntar 06:48  |  PETER SM 11/06/08
      167.   Kill Hamas members one by one till Shalit is released 07:32  |  Baruch Gold 11/06/08
      168.   PETER SM AUSTRALIA 07:45  |  Mona 11/06/08
      169.   What makes Shalit`s plea any different from Palestinians? 10:55  |  Dutch 11/06/08
      170.   61: Dino the appeaser is still at it. (2nd try) 13:34  |  David Teich 11/06/08
      171.   149: BBSNews on ignorance 13:39  |  David Teich 11/06/08
      172.   # 146 JP 14:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/06/08
      173.   # 154 Rachel / # 170 David Teich 14:32  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/06/08
      174.   #156 Silviienne - I received the reply - Thanks 16:04  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      175.   #164 Maureen Ann 16:06  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      176.   #159 Silvienne 16:10  |  * BEN JABO 11/06/08
      177.   Teich, just for fun... 16:38  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      178.   #164, Maureen Ann... 16:58  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      179.   #165, BBSNews... 17:01  |  Silvienne 11/06/08
      180.   Teich, one more thing... 17:21  |  BBSNews 11/06/08
      181.   BBSNews...one more thing... 00:13  |  Silvienne 12/06/08
      182.   Silvienne on contact 02:24  |  BBSNews 12/06/08
      183.   Original Sin 05:40  |  Mark 13/06/08
      184.   173: Dino, still with the bassakwards lies 14:24  |  David Teich 13/06/08
      185.   177: Of course it`s for fun, BBS 14:35  |  David Teich 13/06/08
      186.   57# Samir Kuntar would disagree 16:15  |  Saffer 22/07/08
      187.   Jimmy Carter 02:34  |  fred 09/09/09
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