May 30, 2011 Avi is interviewed about the Israeli abducted soldier, Gilad Shalit.

Here is what Avi said in an interview published at Euobserver.com :

“I am cautiously optimistic.

 Today Hamas has to refigure its situation in the newly-shaped region. It is enjoying a warming-up of relations with Egypt and the support of the Muslim Brotherhood. But these actors may need Hamas to become more flexible so that they can gain face with the West…Post-revolutionary Egypt – which is a mediator in the Shalit talks – is likely to put pressure on Hamas to free the 24-year-old soldier in order to gain credibility for itself with the EU and US.”

 October 18, 2011 Gilad Shalit was released.