Italy’s capital gives honorary citizenship to Israeli soldier Schalit held by Hamas in Gaza

October 2nd, 2009 Israeli official: Captured soldier looks healthyJERUSALEM — An Israeli official says a captured Israeli soldier looks healthy and speaks lucidly about his past in a two-minute video released by Gaza militants. The official says he saw the video of Sgt.

October 2nd, 2009 Israel releases prisoners in exchange for videoJERUSALEM — Israel has freed 19 Palestinian women prisoners, after seeing a videotape offering a first glimpse of an Israeli soldier held by Gaza Strip militants for more than three years. The women were released into the West Bank and Gaza on Friday after an Israeli negotiator viewed the videotape to determine it was authentic.

October 2nd, 2009 Israel, Palestinians move toward prisoner swapJERUSALEM — Israeli prison vans began moving 19 Palestinian women on Friday toward border crossings with the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where they will be freed if Hamas militants release a promised videotape offering a first glimpse of a long-held Israeli soldier. A 20th woman will be released to Gaza on Sunday as part of the exchange, Israel's prisons service said.

September 30th, 2009 Israel moves closer to freeing captive soldierJERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas militants announced a deal Wednesday that will see Israel release 20 Palestinian women from prison this week in exchange for a videotape proving that a captive Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip is still alive. The decision was the first tangible sign of movement in more than three years of talks over the release of the soldier, Sgt.

September 9th, 2009 Captive Israeli soldier writes of 'nightmare'JERUSALEM — An Israeli soldier seized by Palestinian militants more than three years ago described his captivity as an "intolerable and inhumane nightmare" in a handwritten 2006 letter to his parents made public on Wednesday. In carefully printed script, Sgt.

September 2nd, 2009 Israel releases 9 Hamas lawmakers from prisonRAMALLAH, West Bank — A Hamas legislator in the West Bank says Israel has released nine other Hamas lawmakers from Israeli prisons. The legislator, Mahmoud Ramahi, says the men had all completed 40-month prison terms and their release Wednesday did not appear to be a gesture from Israel.

September 1st, 2009 Hamas: 2 men killed in GazaGAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Hamas militant group says two of its fighters have been killed in the Gaza Strip. The cause of the deaths remains unclear.

August 14th, 2009 Israeli military says all troops accounted forJERUSALEM — The Israeli military says all troops are accounted for after investigating reports that a soldier had been abducted. The military said Friday morning that no soldiers are missing.

August 13th, 2009 Israel investigating report soldier kidnappedJERUSALEM — Police set up dozens of roadblocks across central Israel on Thursday as the military said it was investigating a report that one of its soldiers may have been kidnapped. The alert was sounded after a female soldier reported seeing another soldier being forced into a car outside an army base, the army said.

July 7th, 2009 Egypt president hopes Schalit issue resolved soonCAIRO — An Israeli soldier being held in Gaza by Hamas militants is alive and in good condition, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Tuesday, adding that he hopes the soldier will be released soon. Sgt. Gilad Schalit has been held by Hamas-allied militants since being captured more than three years ago in a cross-border raid from Gaza.

July 6th, 2009 Hamas cartoon mocks captured Israeli soldierJERUSALEM — Hamas TV in Gaza has broadcast a short animated movie mocking an Israeli soldier captured by the militant Islamic group three years ago. Israeli media played excerpts of the movie Monday.

July 3rd, 2009 Israel mulling easing Gaza embargo, report saysJERUSALEM — Israel's Defense Ministry has recommended a partial lifting of the embargo on the Gaza Strip as a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinians to spur talks to free a long-held captive soldier, an Israeli news site reported Friday. Israel has been linking the opening of Gaza's borders to the release of Sgt.

June 23rd, 2009 Israel to free Palestinian parliament speakerJERUSALEM — Israel's prison service says it is freeing the Hamas-affiliated speaker of the Palestinian parliament after nearly three years in jail. Abdel Aziz Duaik was one of dozens of Hamas politicians arrested after Hamas-linked militants captured an Israeli soldier in June 2006.

June 9th, 2009 Itinerary announced for Carter's Middle East tripATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter's latest Mideast peacemaking trip will include a visit with the father of a captive Israeli soldier and a tour of a West Bank settlement. Carter is visiting Syria, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza in his effort to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

February 15th, 2009 JERUSALEM - Israel will not agree to open the crossing points into the Gaza Strip until an Israeli soldier held captive in the salient for two-and-a-half years has been released, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Sunday night. 'We will not allow the opening of the crossings to Gaza, to the extent that it will bring life back to normal, certainly not before Gilad Shalit is home,' he said.