Posted on 07/07/2007 1:24:21 AM PDT by Cincinna
PARIS (EJP)---French President Nicolas Sarkozy will meet next week in Paris with the families of Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, the three Israeli soldiers kidnapped last year by Hamas and Hezbollah, the presidential palace told EJP Friday.
On Sunday evening, the French Jewish community will organize a solemn service at the Paris main synagogue to express solidarity with the three soldiers.
The Siona movement, which founded the international committee for the liberation of the three soldiers, initiated the ceremony which will take place at the synagogue of rue de la Victoire.
It will be attended by France’s chief rabbi Joseph Sitruk, Israeli ambassador to France Daniel Shek and the families of the three soldiers.
The 19-year-old Gilad Shalit, who has both Israeli and French citizenship, was kidnapped on 25 June 2006 by Hamas near the Gaza strip while Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped by Hezbollah in July 2006 at the Israel-Lebaon border.
Earlier this week, Hamas has brokered the release in Gaza of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, who had been held for four months by the Army of Islam.
Johnston’s release has revived hopes that progress could be made on a swap involving Gilad Shalit.
Sarko is developing into one of Israel’s best friends and closest allies.
In a related story from Haaretz Israel News:
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/878426.html
Israel, France to meet annually to mull common strategic issues
By Aluf Benn
Israel and France agreed yesterday to hold an annual strategic dialogue that will focus on diplomatic, security and economic issues, to be led by the directors general of the two foreign ministries. The agreement follows yesterday’s meeting between Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who is visiting the French capital, and her French counterpart Bernard Kouchner.
Livni also met President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had a message of friendship for Israel. The foreign minister discussed with the new French president the “danger and chances” created by the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip.
Sarkozy was interested to learn Israel’s views on furthering the peace process. Livni’s visit to Paris is a preamble to a trip to France and Britain that Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is due to make in a few weeks to meet the new leadership in those countries.
On Sunday evening, the French Jewish community will organize a solemn service at the Paris main synagogue to express solidarity with the three soldiers... The 19-year-old Gilad Shalit, who has both Israeli and French citizenship, was kidnapped on 25 June 2006 by Hamas near the Gaza strip while Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were kidnapped by Hezbollah in July 2006 at the Israel-Lebaon border.
Thanks Cincinna... I always appreciate your informed postings and pings.
I have not posted much lately on FR, but find your updates a bright hope for the future of France and the west.
Is anybody even sure that these three soldiers are still alive? I’ve been wondering about this for awhile now along with many others.
Good for Sarko and France!
Too bad our State Department is now one of Israel’s worst enemies...
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