JERUSALEM: An Israeli soldier held by Gaza militants for more than 15 months is in good condition, Egypt s intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was quoted as telling an Israeli minister on Wednesday. Gilad Shalit is in good condition. He feels well and has even gained some weight because he does not do any exercise, Suleiman told Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai who held one-day talks in Cairo on Tuesday, one of his senior aides told AFP. Shalit was abducted on June 25, 2006 in a cross-border raid by three Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, which today rules the Gaza Strip.
The Egyptians have played a key role in mediation efforts to broker a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas, which have nevertheless failed to reach any agreement.
