Friday, April 6, 2007

POW families welcome Iran releases

JTA, 4-5-07

The families of three captive Israeli soldiers welcomed Iran's release of a group of British sailors.

Relatives of Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit sent letters of solidarity to the families of the 15 sailors, who were freed Thursday after almost two weeks in Iranian captivity. The sailors were captured in the Persian Gulf after Iran accused them of crossing into Iranian waters, though Britain insists the group was in Iraqi waters.

The letters, copies of which were provided to Israeli media, congratulated the Britons' on the return of their loved ones and urged them to help in efforts to recover Goldwasser and Regev from Hezbollah and Shalit from his Palestinian captors in Gaza.

"We are certain that, when you finish celebrating the release of your children, you will serve as an advocate for us in Britain through your government and the international community,” read the letters, which were transferred by the British Embassy in Tel Aviv.

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