'We'll continue to work with German Schalit mediator'

In reaction to 'Al-Ahram' report that new mediator set to replace Gerhard Conrad, PMO says Israel is serious about bringing Gilad home.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Gilad Schalit in video 311 (R) (photo credit: Reuters)
Gilad Schalit in video 311 (R)
(photo credit: Reuters)
Israel will continue to work under the leadership of the German mediator Gerhard Conrad who was appointed to help bring about the release Gilad Schalit, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement was released in reaction to reports that a new European mediator had been appointed to help bring about the release of the captive IDF soldier.
"Israel is serious about bringing Gilad Schalit home" a statement by the PMO read. "We will continue to work on the basis of the proposal that Gerhard Conrad constructed with Hamas," the statement continued.
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Egyptian daily Al-Ahram reported on Tuesday that a new European mediator had been appointed to replace Conrad of Germany.
A spokesman for the Schalit family said it had not been informed of such an appointment.
Also on Wednesday, Gilad's uncle, Bezalel Raz, addressed the resignation of mediator Haggai Hadas, saying that a person who sees the light at the end of the tunnel would certainly stay at his post.
"If a person who has worked so hard would have had any hope to look forward to, he would not have asked to leave his position," Raz said. "The government did not give him room to work in."
Raz's comments came three days after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced that David Meidan would replace Hagai Hadas as the government’s pointman on the issue.
Chief of General Staff Lt.- Gen. Benny Gantz said on Monday that efforts were under way to release Schalit, according to Army Radio.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report.