Report: Israel gets letter from Shalit

'Al-Ayyam' claims Egyptians passed on correspondence meant for Noam Shalit.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Published: SEPTEMBER 15, 2006 09:35
shalit, gilad, 298 ap (photo credit: AP)
shalit, gilad, 298 ap
(photo credit: AP)
Egypt has given Israel a letter written in kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit's handwriting and addressed to Shalit's father Noam, the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam reported Friday morning.
  • Qurei to go to Syria for Shalit talks The report said a Hamas delegation from Damascus gave the letter to Egyptian officials in Cairo. Egypt then passed it on to former deputy Shin Bet head Ofer Dekel, who is in charge of dealing with the affairs of the kidnapped soldiers. The soldier's father, Noam Shalit, refused to respond to the reports, however, as did Israeli security officials. A senior IDF official announced on Thursday that Shalit was still alive, and that he was being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian officials, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was optimistic on Thursday regarding Shalit's release in the near future. However, Hamas has consistently denied that significant progress has been made in freeing the soldier.