FRANCE: President Sarkozy meets families of Israeli hostages

French President Nicolas Sarkozy promises to help relatives of kidnapped Israeli soldiers as the families tour Europe to fight for their sons' release. French President Nicolas Sarkozy met families of the three Israeli soldiers kidnapped by the Hamas and Hezbollah at the Elysée Palace in Paris on Monday (July 9). Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser have all been missing for over a year, and are believed to be held in Gaza and Lebanon, respectively. Their parents are touring Europe to put pressure on governments to fight for their release. Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped Gilad Shalit, told reporters after the visit to the Elysee that Sarkozy had expressed real sympathy for the soldiers' plight. "The president talked about Gilad with lots of human warmth," said his father. "He has promised to make all possible efforts to help Gilad, who is an Israeli soldier but also a French citizen. Those are the words of the President of the Republic," added Shalit. Ehud Goldwasser's mother, Miki Goldwasser, expressed her frustration at the apparent lack of results in the fight to free her son. She said there has been no word from those being held captive, unlike Palestinians being held in Israeli jails who are allowed to write and receive packages from home, she said. "Mr Nasrallah didn't capture my son to ignore me," said Miki Goldwasser. "He captured them for a reason, so why does it take so much time, why does it take so long and we don't have any result yet? And why doesn't he give any sign of life at least, because in Israel all the prisoners are getting visits from the Red Cross, from Amnesty, from doctors. They can send letters, they can send packages. We don't even know about our sons, if they are alive or not." The parents hope their tour will lead to renewed efforts to help their sons, especially given the recent increase in tensions in the Middle East.

ITN Source | July 9, 2007

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