BRUSSLES, October 12, 2011 (WAFA) - European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton Wednesday welcomed in a statement the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit but failed to mention anything about the release of Palestinian prisoners.
'I warmly welcome the news that Gilad Shalit will soon be able to return home after five years of captivity, putting an end to the long ordeal that he and his family have endured.” She said.
Ashton said that she had “personally shared my concerns and expressed the support of the EU and of the international community at large to Gilad’s family.”
Hamas and Israel agreed on Tuesday on a prisoners exchange deal which will release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held since 2006, in exchange for releasing 1027 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
T.R./F.R.
