The Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian militants last June is still alive, Egypt's foreign minister said Wednesday during a visit to Jerusalem. Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Egypt is mediating between Israel and Hamas to win the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was captured last June by militants linked to the ruling Hamas faction who tunnelled into Israel and then fled back to Gaza. Cpl. Shalit has not been seen or heard from since then, though Israeli officials have said they believe he is alive.“This is a very sensitive issue,” Aboul Gheit told a news conference in Jerusalem. “I hope and believe that he will be released ... but I emphasize that we are working hard for his release and we are sure that he is still alive.”
Of course it's a very sensitive issue. When you come right down to it, Egypt's aiding and abetting the crime of kidnapping.
However, he said he could not guarantee Cpl. Shalit's release. Aboul Gheit spoke in Arabic and his comments were translated into Hebrew. The news conference was held after a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. The militants holding Cpl. Shalit have demanded a large-scale prisoner release by Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said this week he would consider releasing some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel before Cpl. Shalit is freed, softening his long-standing opposition to such a gesture.
Might as well go a head and release them all. Otherwise they'll just kidnap somebody else to get the rest.