Aviva Shalit: Politicians too busy with their own affairs to free my son

The mother of Gilad Shalit on Thursday said that Israeli politicians are too preoccupied with their own affairs to work for her son's release, speaking at a rally to mark the kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier's third birthday in captivity.

"Every politician is occupied with his own affairs and not Gilad's," said Aviva Shalit in a rare public address. "This is not a deal about shares or [stock] options. This is about the life of an IDF soldier."

The event marking Shalit's 22nd birthday took place at his home in Mitzpeh Hila in the Galilee. He was kidnapped from his IDF post in 2006 by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid, and is believed to be still held in the coastal strip.

The abducted soldier's mother referred to comments made by politicians about the number of Palestinian prisoners Hamas has demanded in return for freeing Shalit: "Whoever wants to avoid [paying] a high price - you had all the time in the world to do this. A country that forgets its soldiers will eventually be forgotten by its soldiers."

Addressing her son, Aviva Shalit said: Giladi be strong and don't break. We are with you and for you and will get you out of there... You don't deserve a third year in this awful captivity. This wonderful nation and we will work [for you]. Even though the politicians are unfortunately occupied with their own agendas and personal affairs."

Meanwhile, senior Israeli officials are of the opinion that Hamas has toughened its position, and that only energetic intervention on the part of the Egyptian mediators may change the situation for the better.

	Aviva Shalit, mother of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, attending a rally marking her son's third birthday in captivity. (Yaron Kaminsky)