Prime Minister Shimon Peres was “sandak” (godfather) this week at the brit mila ceremony for the son of released Israeli prisoner of war Hezi Shai.
Shai, 31, was captured in the early stages of the Lebanon war in June, 1982, and was released with two other POW’s in May 1985 in exchange for 1,150 convicted terrorists.
President Chaim Herzog sent a telegram congratulating Iris and Hezi and their new baby, Omer, on the happy event. The guests included Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Minister Moshe Arens, and veteran left-wing politician Lyova Eliav, who was part of the negotiating team for Shai’s release.
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