Netanyahu hosts Schalits at end of 'Freedom March'
Friday, July 9, 2010
By: ICEJ News

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An hour after returning from an eventful trip to Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hosted Noam and Aviva Schalit at his official Jerusalem residence on Friday afternoon for private talks about their son, kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, but the couple said they left without any “calming news” on the fate of the Hamas hostage. The Schalits have just completed a 12-day “Freedom March” across Israel, and said that the strong show of public support they received along the way has fortified them to keep their vow to stay in a protest tent outside the Prime Minister’s Residence until their son’s safe return. Still, Noam said they left today’s meeting disappointed by the lack of “any news… that can calm us." Netanyahu explained to the Schalit's that he had discussed their son's continued imprisonment with top US officials and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and he repeatedly asked them to increase international pressure to free Gilad freed and to allow him Red Cross visits. The prime minister also expressed his personal support for the family’s efforts to free him.