Former US President Jimmy Carter is in Jerusalem and has met with the family of an Israeli soldier who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants.
The father of the kidnapped soldier gave Mr Carter a letter addressed to his son. He asked the former president to make use of his connections with the Islamist organisation Hamas to deliver the letter. The soldier's parents received a letter from their son last year via Mr Carter's organisation the Carter Center.
The now 22-year-old Gilad Schalit was kidnapped three years ago in Israeli territory in the Gaza Strip. Attempts at exchanging Palestinian prisoners for the Israeli soldier have been futile. Contrary to international agreements, the Red Cross is not allowed to visit the soldier.
Mr Carter is touring the Middle East to encourage reconciliation between the conflicting parties. He is scheduled to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres.
photo by [sic!]ut.at/flickr
[sic!]ut.at/flickr
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