Carter to give note to abducted soldier

JERUSALEM, June 12 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter agreed to deliver a letter from the parents of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held captive in Gaza for three years.

Carter, currently visiting the region, met the kidnapped soldier's parents Friday in Jerusalem.

The former president promised Noam and Aviva Shalit, he would do everything in his power to ensure the letter reaches their son, the daily Maariv reported.

During the meeting, Noam Shalit expressed the family's desire for a further "sign of life" from their son, the report said.

"Former President Carter has a good relationship with President Barack Obama and the U.S. administration today, a much better relationship than the one he had under the last administration," Shalit told Maariv. "The letter is a personal letter from a family ... . A letter from parents, and siblings, who have not seen their son and brother for three years."

Shalit added Carter is one of the few U.S. officials who maintains contact with Hamas and expressed hope the former president will succeed in his mission.

Gilad was on duty on the Gaza border when he was abducted three years ago and taken to Gaza where he has been held captive since.