“We are returning to Israel with more hope, thanks to the French”

From the JTA, startling news that Noam Shalit, father of kidnapped Israeli soldier and French dual citizen Gilat Shalit, thinks France is doing a better job than Israel in working to bring back his son and the other captives. This is a step beyond the main point of the article, which is that (surprise!) Sarkozy may well turn out to be more Israeli-friendly than his predecessor. But is France better for Israel than Israel itself?

"This is the third time I have come to France seeking help for the release of my son, Gilad, and I can tell you, a new wind is blowing in Paris," said Noam Shalit, father of the 19-year-old Israeli corporal seized in June 2006 by Palestinian infiltrators from the Gaza Strip. “The Sarkozy government is trying hard to obtain the release of Gilad, and also the two boys in Lebanon.”

French Jewish officials see the attention given to the issue of the captive soldiers, and Sarkozy’s strong language on the issue, as a sign of significant change in France’s attitude toward the Jewish state. [....]

While Shalit hailed Sarkozy’s efforts, he had less praise for his own government, which he says has done little to bring his son home.

“We are returning to Israel with more hope, thanks to the French,” he said. “France is now the international center of activity for the release of our boys.”