Noam Shalit gives Jimmy Carter letter to son held by Hamas

            Noam Shalit, father of abducted Israel Defense Force soldier Gilad Shalit, passed a letter to his son to former United States president during their meeting on Friday. Shalit met Carter, who arrived as part of a series of talks in the region, in Jerusalem's Colony Hotel and asked him to do what he could in order to make sure his son will receive the letter. After the meeting Shalit said that the former president was one of a few Americans with links to Hamas and was hopeful that those connections could be used to secure the release of his son. Shalit also said that the meeting went well and that Carter committed himself to helping Gilad's cause. He added that while the government was unable to provide him with goods news recently he was still hopeful that Haggai Hadas, recently appointed to head Shalit talks, would work vigorously toward the release of his son. (08,56)