Abducted Israeli's Dad Urges Release

CNN reports:

The father of an Israeli soldier kidnapped five years ago by Palestinian militants has called for his release no matter how high the price.

Noam Shalit told CNN this week it was time for the Israeli government to reach a deal with the Hamas movement which controls Gaza that would secure his son Gilad Shalit's freedom.

Noam Shalit has been leading popular calls for a deal from a makeshift "protest tent" put up outside the prime minister's residence in Jerusalem shortly after Shalit's capture.

The tent houses an empty lawn chair, with a printed sign taped to the seat that reads "Reserved for Gilad Shalit." Above it is a sign with the tally of days he has been kept prisoner in Gaza.

It serves as a potent reminder to the government that the Israeli public, as well as Shalit's family, have not forgotten the young soldier's plight.

Hamas wants nearly 1,000 Palestinians -- many convicted killers -- to be freed from prison in exchange for the soldier, who was abducted aged 19 from Israel five years ago on Saturday.