The Group of Eight leading industrialized nations called yesterday for the immediate release of captured soldier Gilad Shalit and for the opening of the Gaza crossings to allow humanitarian aid, goods and people into the Hamas-controlled enclave.
The G8, meeting in Italy, stressed that opening the crossings must not compromise Israeli security. Currently the crossings are only open to humanitarian aid and people needing medical treatment. Egypt has opened its crossings to Muslim pilgrims to Mecca as well.
The G8 countries, confirming that "a just, lasting and global peace in the Middle East remains crucial for the international community," also renewed their full support for the two-state solution, which would allow Israel to "live in peace and safety" and create "a Palestinian state in which the Palestinian people can make their own decisions."
According to Italian news agency ANSA, leaders also called on Israel to deny construction permits to Jewish settlers living in the West Bank, including those requested for "natural growth."
The G8 also welcomed recent steps by both Israel and the Palestinians, and called on both sides to live up to previous obligations, "including the clear rejection of violence, terrorism and instigation to terrorism and a complete freeze on settlement activities."
The G8 also urged Arab states to begin normalizing their relations with Israel and to provide political and economic support to the Palestinian Authority.
Earlier in the day, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi called for a "Marshall Plan" to help the PA.
Berlusconi said an aid committee, including private organizations, would work to bring the average salary in PA-controlled areas to the Israeli level.
The G8's call came as an Egyptian official charged with mediating between Israel and Palestinian factions for Shalit's release visited Ramallah for talks with PA leaders.
General Mohammed Ibrahim has been working with his boss, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, to get rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to continue reconciliation talks.
A senior Israeli defense official, meanwhile, went to Cairo yesterday for discussions on the situation in the Gaza Strip and on the Palestinian unity talks. Israel Radio quoted Egyptian sources as saying that Amos Gilad, the head of the political-security bureau at the Defense Ministry, discussed efforts to secure Shalit's release during the trip.
Shalit's father, Noam, met yesterday with Hagai Hadas, who is leading efforts to free the abducted soldier from Hamas captivity.
Shalit described the meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv as a routine briefing on developments, but he declined to go into detail.
When asked by Haaretz whether Hadas' involvement in the Life Keeper heart-patch affair came up during the meeting, Shalit said his family was not dealing with that issue.
Meanwhile, Shimshon Leibman, who heads a forum seeking to gain Shalit's release, commented on whether Hadas could continue carrying out his duties amid the Life Keeper events. "We believe in Hadas' honesty in our case, and nothing else interests us," he said.
The forum issued an announcement Wednesday, as Benjamin Netanyahu's government completed its first 100 days in office. The forum said that "Gilad Shalit is still in Hamas captivity. For more than three years, Gilad has been locked up without any contact with the outside world. The family is saddened by the fact that the Netanyahu government has not managed to bring its son home."
The forum called on the prime minister to act immediately to free Shalit. "A hundred days and every day that passes are an eternity for Gilad, whose suffering is immeasurable," it said. "The family's suffering, waiting for Gilad, is too difficult to bear. The family hopes that the government is making a genuine effort to bring their son home quickly. Time has run out."
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