Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Meets With Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson And Jimmy Carter

Shas leader tells visitors the world is inciting against the Jews.

Shas leader Yosef to Carter: World inciting against Jews
By Haaretz Service

Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef on Tuesday told visiting former U.S. president Jimmy Carter  that the world is inciting against Jews, Army Radio reported. 

During a meeting with the former president in Jerusalem, Yosef called asked him to help ensure the return of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been in Palestinian captivity since abducted by militants in a 2006 cross-border raid. 

The meeting was also attended by South African Bishop and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, as well as former president of Ireland and former head of the United Nations Human Rights commission Mary Robinson. 

The delegation is in Israel as part of the "Elders", a pro-peace organization established by former South African president Nelson Mandela, ahead of his 89th birthday. 

It aims to engage the experience and prestige of celebrated global leaders to recruit popular support for peace building, and for dealing with humanitarian problems in crisis areas. 

Carter has become of late a regular visitor to Jerusalem and Ramallah. The last time Tutu came to the region, he protested from Gaza Strip that he was not allowed to break the siege and pass from there into Israel. 

Here's Ynet's report:

Rabbi Yosef asks Carter to help Shalit

Shas' spiritual leader meets former US president, other diplomats and asks them to assist in captive soldier's release

Ronen Medzini • Ynet

Former US President Jimmy Carter met with Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, at the  latter's home in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

"You and other leaders need to make an effort at this stage and do everything to release Gilad Shalit," the rabbi told Carter. "You can influence this."  

Asked to cooperate on Shalit release (Photo: Dudi Vaaknin)

Carter arrived along with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu and the former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, who recently received commendation from US President Barack Obama.

The rabbi stressed his commitment to peace and condemned incitement against Israel in schools located in various Arab countries.

Shas Chairman Eli Yishai, who was also present at the meeting, said Israel had made many efforts to achieve peace with countries which in turn do not even recognize its existence.  

Carter told Yosef that following his meeting with Yishai one year ago the Shalits were able to receive a letter from their captive son, and that he hoped additional cooperation would soon make his release possible.

Carter was last in Israel two months ago, when he toured Gaza and met with Noam Shalit, the kidnapped soldier's father.