JERUSALEM – The father of an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza for nearly three years blames outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for failing to free his son.
Noam Schalit said his son, Sgt. Gilad Schalit, was captured while Olmert was in office, so his family expected Olmert to bring him home. But, the father said, "we were wrong."
Talks between Israel and Hamas over a prisoner exchange that would have brought Schalit home broke down this week with both sides blaming the other.
Noam Schalit spoke at a protest tent the family set up in front of Olmert's residence. He said they would dismantle the tent Saturday night, marking 1,000 days since the soldier was captured.
Olmert is expected to step down, possibly later this week.
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