IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said Wednesday that bringing captive IDF soldier Gilad Schalit home is a national mission that he hopes Israel will accomplish.
"Bringing Gilad home is a national mission and we are carrying out both covert and overt means to bring Schalit home." Ashkenazi said, adding "I am hopeful we will accomplish this mission."
Ashkenazi added that as the Chief of Staff, he sees himself as personally responsible for all soldiers, and making sure Schalit returns home safely.
Ashkenazi's statements came during a speech to hundreds of high school students at the 30th Zionist Youth Conference in Ashdod, hours after Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened a Security Cabinet meeting to discuss recent progress on talks to secure the soldier's release.
