The Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, reiterated on Wednesday that securing the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit from Hamas captivity was of the utmost importance to Israel.
“Bringing back Gilad Shalit is a national mission, and both covert and overt actions are being carried out to bring him back,” Ashkenazi told a gathering in Ashdod.
Ashkenazi is in favor of a deal with Hamas under which hundreds of convicted Palestinian terrorists would be released in exchange for Shalit; he recently clashed with Netanyahu’s political adviser Uzi Arad, who opposes the swap.
Read the full story at HAARETZ.com.
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