Yoel Shalit:bring my brother home

JERUSALEM, June 18 (UPI) -- Yoel Shalit, the brother of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, called on the government to act and secure his brother's release.

"I call on the prime minister, ministers and Knesset members, I know it is a new government, two or three months old, in politics that is not a long time, but for Gilad it is an endless time of suffering, isolation and pain," Yoel said in a rare interview with Maariv Thursday.

"I beg you, I beg the entire world, people in the United Nations, the United States and Europe, I am asking you, free Gilad as soon as possible ... . I beg you save my brother."

The former government led by Ehud Olmert failed miserably to free Gilad, abducted to Gaza three years ago, Yoel said, recalling one of the meetings he held with the former Prime Minister.

"I asked him one thing: How can he guarantee the next government will bring Gilad home. He could not guarantee anything. We don't know if Gilad will return and in what kind of condition he will be in when he returns," Yoel said.

Thousands are expected next Tuesday to gather at the Erez, Karni and Kerem Shalom border crossings with Gaza and demand Gilad's release, Yoel said, adding the family also intends to conduct a protest outside the Defense Ministry days later.