The President of CRIF went to the Elysée Palace with the families of the three Israeli soldiers kidnapped last summer by Hamas and Hizbollah. He spoke of the “exceptional climate of this meeting”, during which Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his concern for the families and his willingness to listen to what they had to say.
The Head of State told the families that he would do everything in his power to obtain the liberation of the three soldiers, adding that he made no distinction between Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas, and Ingrid Betancourt [kidnapped four years ago in Colombia], who are both of French nationality, and Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, kidnapped by Hizbollah.
The President of the Republic declared that the liberation of the three soldiers was for him a “personal matter” and that he would apply “maximum pressure” to obtain their freedom.
Richard Prasquier said he had been “very impressed by the personal involvement” of Nicolas Sarkozy, and indicated that CRIF will continue to stand with the families to obtain the liberation of Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev.
Nicolas Sarkozy also referred to the inter-Lebanese conference to be held in Paris from July 14th to 16th. Without any ambiguity regarding the terrorist nature of Hizbollah, which he will not be personally receiving, he stated that this conference will not give “the slightest semblance of legitimacy” to this organisation, whose presence, alongside that of thirteen other Lebanese organisations, may, according to an observer, help to avoid new clashes in Lebanon.
“Having Hizbollah in Paris is not acceptable,” said Richard Prasquier to Radio J, recalling the series of deadly attacks carried out by the organisation, including against French soldiers. Nevertheless we hope that the presence of Hizbollah in Paris will make it possible to come to a satisfactory solution for the two hostages it is holding,” said Richard Prasquier, underlining the absence of any information as to their fate. “It’s also over 20 years since we had any news of Ron Arad,” recalled the President of CRIF.
On the same topic, the mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë has sent CRIF the copy of a letter that he sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner, a few days before the start of the inter-Lebanese conference in Paris.
The Mayor of Paris writes to the minister: “I feel it is essential that Hizbollah be required, with the greatest firmness, to provide evidence that the Israeli soldiers kidnapped in July 2006 are alive and well, and also tangible signs of their forthcoming liberation.”
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