'If Hamas takes Schalit out of Gaza, he could be freed'

Former intelligence chief Farkash admits that IDF doesn't know where captive solider is; "I'm sure they are doing everything to get him back."

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Gilad Schalit in video 311 (R) (photo credit: Reuters)
Gilad Schalit in video 311 (R)
(photo credit: Reuters)
“If Hamas will take [captive IDF soldier Gilad] Schalit out of the Gaza Strip, even though it has no interest in doing so [freeing him], Israel would have more of a chance of releasing him,” Maj.-Gen.(res.) Aharon Ze’evi-Farkash, former commander of Military Intelligence, said on Saturday, referring to speculation that Schalit might be sent to Egypt.
The government does not know where Schalit is, Farkash said during an event in Beersheba. “It’s sad, but that’s a fact. I’m sure they are doing everything to get him back.”
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Also in attendance at the event was David Barak, the father of Lt. Hanan Barak, Gilad’s commander who was killed along with St.-Sgt. Pavel Slutsker during the raid in which Schalit was kidnapped.
David Barak said that to the best of his knowledge, the military had accurate intelligence information back in June 2006 about the possibility of a kidnapping or an attack occurring against the IDF on the Gaza border.
“There were a number of intelligence failures and because of this the abduction was not avoided,” he said. “It should be noted that similar information was also presented to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee four months after the abduction,” he said.