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| Version 17 | Version 18 |
|---|---|
| Tape shows Shalit 'safe and well' | Tape shows Shalit 'safe and well' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has been seen in the first video to be released since his capture in June 2006 by Palestinian militant group Hamas. | |
| In the film, sent by Hamas in exchange for the release of 20 Palestinian women prisoners, Sgt Shalit looks healthy and says he is being treated "fine". | |
| He said Israel should "not waste" the chance to make a deal with his captors. | He said Israel should "not waste" the chance to make a deal with his captors. |
| Nineteen of the Palestinian prisoners were freed earlier, amid emotional scenes in the West Bank and Gaza. | Nineteen of the Palestinian prisoners were freed earlier, amid emotional scenes in the West Bank and Gaza. |
| Sgt Shalit, who was seized near Israel's border with Gaza, appeared clean-shaven and with trimmed hair in the video. | |
| The conscripted soldier, now aged 23, smiled briefly at times as he spoke coherently in the video, which lasted for more than two minutes. | The conscripted soldier, now aged 23, smiled briefly at times as he spoke coherently in the video, which lasted for more than two minutes. |
| He was dressed in uniform, seated in a chair against a featureless wall and was holding a newspaper dated 14 September 2009. | He was dressed in uniform, seated in a chair against a featureless wall and was holding a newspaper dated 14 September 2009. |
| "I hope this government, headed by Netanyahu, does not waste this opportunity to reach a deal Sgt Gilad ShalitIsraeli soldier href="/2/hi/middle_east/8287633.stm">Video message: Full text class="" href="/2/hi/middle_east/6238858.stm">Q&A: Captured soldier Gilad Shalit | |
| "I am reading the paper to find information about myself and hoping to read about my release soon," Sgt Shalit said. | "I am reading the paper to find information about myself and hoping to read about my release soon," Sgt Shalit said. |
| "I have been waiting and hoping for a long time to return home." | "I have been waiting and hoping for a long time to return home." |
| And he suggested that the decision to release the video opened up a chance to strike an agreement to free him. | And he suggested that the decision to release the video opened up a chance to strike an agreement to free him. |
| "I hope this government, headed by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, does not waste this opportunity to reach a deal," Sgt Shalit said. | "I hope this government, headed by [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, does not waste this opportunity to reach a deal," Sgt Shalit said. |
| The soldier also spoke about a day spent with his father and sister, when a photograph was taken of him on a tank and they in a restaurant in a Druze Arab village. | The soldier also spoke about a day spent with his father and sister, when a photograph was taken of him on a tank and they in a restaurant in a Druze Arab village. |
| "I am physically well," he said, adding that his captors, whom he described as the al-Qassam Mujahideen Brigades, "are treating me fine". | "I am physically well," he said, adding that his captors, whom he described as the al-Qassam Mujahideen Brigades, "are treating me fine". |
| Eighteen of the prisoners were handed over in the West Bank on Friday and another was released in Gaza. | Eighteen of the prisoners were handed over in the West Bank on Friday and another was released in Gaza. |
| The prisoners were not freed until officials had seen the video. A 20th prisoner will be released on Sunday. | |
| 'Encouraging' | |
| Mr Netanyahu described Sgt Shalit as "safe and well" after seeing the footage, but gave no hint that a deal was imminent. | Mr Netanyahu described Sgt Shalit as "safe and well" after seeing the footage, but gave no hint that a deal was imminent. |
| "Even though the road to his release is long and difficult, the knowledge that he is safe and well should encourage us all," the prime minister said. | "Even though the road to his release is long and difficult, the knowledge that he is safe and well should encourage us all," the prime minister said. |
| Nearly three years of Egyptian-brokered talks have failed to produce a deal for his release. | Nearly three years of Egyptian-brokered talks have failed to produce a deal for his release. |
| Some of the Palestinian prisoners being greeted by relatives | Some of the Palestinian prisoners being greeted by relatives |
| German mediators joined the talks, between Hamas and Israel, in July. | |
| An audiotape and three letters have been released since his capture in 2006, the most recent dated in 2008, but no images of Sgt Shalit have been seen until now. | An audiotape and three letters have been released since his capture in 2006, the most recent dated in 2008, but no images of Sgt Shalit have been seen until now. |
| The female Palestinian prisoners are described as low-profile detainees, most of whom were coming to the end of their sentences. | The female Palestinian prisoners are described as low-profile detainees, most of whom were coming to the end of their sentences. |
| Most were jailed for carrying knives or guns and for attempted murder. | Most were jailed for carrying knives or guns and for attempted murder. |
| The further prisoner is to be released, replacing a woman who was on the original list for the prisoner exchange but was freed independently by the prison service this week. | The further prisoner is to be released, replacing a woman who was on the original list for the prisoner exchange but was freed independently by the prison service this week. |
| 'Incomplete joy' | 'Incomplete joy' |
| There were emotional scenes as those freed in the West Bank were greeted by relatives before an audience with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | There were emotional scenes as those freed in the West Bank were greeted by relatives before an audience with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| One woman whose son was born in jail was freed in Gaza as part of the deal | One woman whose son was born in jail was freed in Gaza as part of the deal |
| "My feeling right now is one of enormous joy," said Jihad Abu Turki, as she arrived in the city of Ramallah. | "My feeling right now is one of enormous joy," said Jihad Abu Turki, as she arrived in the city of Ramallah. |
| "But the joy remains incomplete without my sisters who are still in prison." | "But the joy remains incomplete without my sisters who are still in prison." |
| It is thought that the videotape handed over on Friday was sent to Egypt with a Hamas delegation. | It is thought that the videotape handed over on Friday was sent to Egypt with a Hamas delegation. |
| Hamas has never allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross access to verify Mr Shalit's wellbeing. | Hamas has never allowed the International Committee of the Red Cross access to verify Mr Shalit's wellbeing. |
| The militant group, which controls Gaza, is demanding the release of at least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the soldier's safe return home. | The militant group, which controls Gaza, is demanding the release of at least 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the soldier's safe return home. |
| Israeli President Shimon Peres has warned that securing his freedom will be a long and difficult task. | Israeli President Shimon Peres has warned that securing his freedom will be a long and difficult task. |