Gilad Shalit tells lone soldiers they are ‘courageous’

Former kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit met 50 lone soldiers in Jerusalem on Thursday and told them they were “courageous and admirable”.

Lone soldiers are young men and women who have made aliyah from countries all over the world without their families and joined the army.

Mr Shalit met a group of lone soldiers, played table tennis and pool with them and expressed his support for the choice they had made.

“I admire each one of you for what you are doing for our country,” he said. “Your decision to leave your families and friends and make aliyah on your own and join the army is truly courageous and admirable,” he said.