BICOM

Gilad Shalit yesterday handed letters to French and German envoys that were addressed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkal to thank the leaders and their countries for the efforts to secure his release after five years of captivity in Gaza.

“I want to thank you with all my heart for the unlimited support you have given me and your efforts to bring about my release,” Shalit wrote in his letter to Sarkozy. The former captured soldier and his father Noam yesterday met with French ambassador Christophe Bigot and German ambassador Andreas Michaelis in Tel Aviv. Germany played a crucial mediating role in securing the release of Shalit, while Shalit, who holds dual Israeli-French citizenship, received strong support from the French government during the time.

Gilad Shalit also told reporters yesterday that he was in the process of rehabilitation and physiotherapy and was slowly returning to normal life. Shalit was released three months ago from Gaza after being captured more than five years ago in a cross border raid by Hamas on an IDF patrol.

On Tuesday, Gilad’s father, Noam, announced that he would enter politics and run for a Labour party position in the next general election.