Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held hostage in the Gaza Strip, was
promoted in absentia. Military officials said Sunday that Shalit, who was a
corporal when he was abducted by Hamas-led gunmen in June, has been made a
sergeant. Ranks in Israel’s conscript military are mainly a function of time
served in uniform rather than merit.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told his
Cabinet that in his meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud
Abbas later in the day, he would reiterate Israel’s demand for Shalit’s
immediate release.
