Shalit holds French citizenship; Paris working for his release

By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service 26 June 2006
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/731476.html

Kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit has dual
French-Israeli citizenship and officials in Paris have been working since
his abduction on Sunday to secure his release from Gaza gunmen.

Corporal Gilad Shalit was a member of the crew of a tank stationed just
outside the border of Gaza, when gunmen from Hamas and other armed groups
attacked their IDF position early Sunday morning.

Two members of the tank crew were killed, a third seriously wounded, and
Gilad, also wounded, was taken captive and brought across the border into
the Gaza Strip.

Shalit's father was born in France and he therefore holds French
citizenship.

Yael Avran, spokeswoman for the French Embassy in Tel Aviv, said diplomats
are "fully active in order to liberate the soldier." She said French
officials in Paris were in touch with Palestinian officials, and the French
ambassador planned to meet with the Shalit family, later in the day.

Noam Shalit, the father of the kidnapped soldier, issued a call to the
kidnappers Monday, appealing for a sign of life, and asking that they
"remember that he's a human being."

"We want to hear a sign of life," Noam Shalit told Army Radio on Monday. "We
believe that those who are holding him also have families and children, and
that they know what we are feeling."

"First of all, it's important to me that he be properly treated from a
medical standpoint. That's the first thing. Then, that they relate to him
reasonably, that they remember that he's a human being."

Turning to his son through the national radio broadcast, Noam Shalit said,
"Try to survive the difficult moments. We love you, and are waiting for you
to come back home."