EU urges release of Israeli soldier held hostage in Gaza
By: Associated Press
Published: June 28, 2006
The EU urged the Palestinian leadership Wednesday to ensure the release of an Israeli soldier held hostage by militants.
Austria holds the rotating EU presidency and it issued a statement calling for the soldier's "immediate and unconditional release."
It urged "the Palestinian leadership to undertake all necessary efforts in this regard."
Cpl. Gilad Shalit was abducted Sunday in southern Gaza. The militants who seized him have demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian women and children held in Israeli jails in exchange for information about him.
In the statement, the EU also urged all parties to show restraint and to "avoid further escalation."
"Hopes for a resumption of a political dialogue after the recent positive signals, including the meeting between Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert and President (Mahmoud) Abbas, must not be put at risk," it said.
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