The parents of an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants have
asked Israel's top court to delay opening border crossings with the
Gaza Strip -- for as long as their son remains in captivity.
Corporal
Gilad Shalit's parents on Saturday petitioned Israel's Supreme Court to
block implementation of a truce that calls for Israel to begin easing a
blockade on Gaza Sunday if a cease-fire holds.
The petition
includes a letter written by Gilad Shalit and delivered to his family
two weeks ago by the foundation led by former U.S. President Jimmy
Carter. In that letter, the soldier pleads for his life and urges his
government not to abandon him.
Shalit was captured by Hamas
militants in a cross-border raid two years ago. Israel has refused
Palestinian demands for a prisoner swap that would include his release.
An
Egyptian-mediated truce in Gaza took effect Thursday and has been
holding since. It calls for ending the nearly daily Palestinian rocket
attacks on southern Israel and the retaliatory Israeli military raids
on Gaza.
Both sides have voiced doubt about how long the cease-fire will last
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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