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MIDEAST-FRANCO Jul-21-2006 (360 words) xxxi
Papal nuncio tried to secure release of kidnapped Israeli soldier
By Judith Sudilovsky
Catholic News Service
JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The papal nuncio to Israel and the Palestinian territories said he tried to secure the release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier soon after his capture by Hamas forces.
The nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco, told Catholic News Service he tried to secure the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit through a Gazan parish priest, Father Manual Musallam, who contacted Hamas and asked for the soldier's release in the name of the Vatican for "humanitarian reasons."
"He contacted the people in Hamas, and then there were all the complications and there was no follow-up, and the soldier was not released," said the archbishop, who declined to elaborate on the content and type of communication between Hamas and the priest.
The Palestinian militant faction Hamas kidnapped Shalit June 25 as the militants called for the release of all Palestinian women and children held in Israeli prisons. Palestinian advocacy groups claim some 10,000 Palestinian and Arab prisoners -- including women and children -- have been held in Israeli jails for years.
Father Musallam told CNS he made contact with the political branch of Hamas to ask for the soldier's release, but its leaders said they "cannot, would not and do not want" to interfere with the military wing of the radical Islamic organization. He said the officials agreed that the soldier should be released and had asked the military wing not to kill him.
"I told them that as a Christian and a priest I cannot agree to any violent action. We are against violence on any side," said Father Musallam. "We agree with them on the basic and fundamental rights of the Palestinians and the liberation of Palestine, but on the manner of how to liberate Palestine ... we are against any military action as Christians."
He said Hamas officials told him they did not know where the soldier was being held.
On June 28, Israel began a military campaign in Gaza to secure Shalit's release. By July 21, Israel had killed at least 115 Palestinians, around half of them militants, during its offensive.
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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