Israeli soldier's grandfather says Netanyahu should change his inflexible policy

The grandfather of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was taken captive by Hamas while he was on active duty, has called on Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to change its “inflexible” policy and work for the immediate release of his grandson. In a statement on Radio Israel, Zvi Shalit said that Hamas will not change its demands, so the only way to obtain the release of Sergeant Shalit is to release Palestinian prisoners.

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“Hamas has a very definite demand,” he said, “one that hasn’t changed over the years.” The Israeli prime minister could, said Mr. Shalit, easily resolve the issue of his grandson’s captivity by making one phone call.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has already announced that his government is working relentlessly to ensure the release of the Israeli soldier. He said that communications between Hamas and Tel Aviv have been resumed through a German mediator in order to work out a prisoner swap deal. The Shalit family, however, accuse the Prime Minister of failing to work hard enough for the release of the Israel Defence Forces captive.