After over five years in captivity - since being kidnapped by Hamas in 2006 - Gilad Shalit was finally released today.

During his imprisonment, the soldier was allowed no visitors, no correspondence or contact with the outside world or even visitation from the Red Cross. In 2009, I visited the UK Red Cross, with Alistair Burt MP, who was then an officer of Conservative Friends of Israel.  We asked the RC to do all they could to use all the channels available, to allow some access to Corporal Shalit.  Sadly, nothing improved and Shalit continued to be kept in solitary confinement.

In order to secure his release, Israel agreed to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were involved in terrorist atrocities - such as the bombing of a Jewish Passover dinner in Netanya in March 2002.  As I said in the Commons last week, the fact that Israel was prepared to release so many terrorists, in return for just one, not only showed her commitment to the lives of her soldiers, but also her commitment to bringing about peace.

My question in the Commons went like this:
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Robert Halfon (Harlow) (Con): I commend my right hon. Friend and, particularly, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon.  Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Alistair Burt) on their work over many years to secure the release of Gilad Shalit. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the fact that Israel has released more then 1,000 prisoners, many of whom were involved in horrific terrorist atrocities, shows that it is willing to negotiate and to make some moves towards peace?
Mr Hague: Yes, I do agree, and I thank my hon. Friend for his remarks, as does the Under-Secretary; we are grateful for that. The release does show such willingness, but it is now important to replicate it in other negotiations.  In this case, Israel has made, as my hon. Friend the Member for Harlow (Robert Halfon) suggests, a decisive offer to bring about the release of Gilad Shalit; we now need Israel to make decisive offers on a much grander scale in order to bring about a two-state solution. That is what we urge it to do in the coming weeks. It will be necessary for Israel to do so if we are to arrive at that two-state solution, because without that solution Israel will be in a steadily more isolated and dangerous international situation.

Conservative Friends of Israel have put the following announcement:
The Prime Minister made the following statement:

“I know that people across Britain will share in the joy and relief felt by Gilad Shalit and his family today. I can only imagine the heartache of the last five years, and I am full of admiration for the courage and fortitude which Sergeant Shalit and his family have shown through his long cruel and unjustified captivity. I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu and everyone involved for bringing him home safely, and hope this prisoner exchange will bring peace a step closer.

“Britain will continue to stand by Israel in defeating terrorism. We remain strongly committed to the cause of peace in the Middle East – with Israel and a Palestinian state living side by side in security. We will continue to work for direct negotiations to achieve that end.”

Parliamentary Chairman of CFI, Rt Hon James Arbuthnot MP said:
“Captured in a cross border attack from inside Israel and imprisoned for over 1000 days the release of Sergeant Gilad Shalit has been a very long time coming. It is impossible to imagine the hardship and suffering that has been endured, but throughout, Gilad and the Shalit family have shown resilience, strength and astonishing determination. I congratulate Prime Minister Netanyahu. Like every good Prime Minister he listened to what the people wanted and he made the tough decisions. He did the right thing.  We must however not confuse this victory for humanity as a victory for Hamas. As Israel and the Palestinians continue to work towards peace and two states for two peoples it remains as clear as ever that Hamas cannot play a part in this process with their ideology intact. The UK must continue to ensure that the Quartet Principles are upheld and re-enforced.”
James Arbuthnot has written an article for Conservative Home which explains why Israel puts such a high price on the lives of its soldiers and emphasises the importance of maintaining pressure on Hamas. You can read the article on the link HERE.

by Robert Halfon - www.roberthalfon.blogspot.com