Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon would have saved hostage Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by now, a former chief aide to and long-time friend of the comatose leader told Israel's Channel 2 News on Saturday.

Dov Weisglass, who also served as Sharon's family attorney, said the ex-general would have by now launched major military operations against the Gaza-based terrorists holding Shalit, as diplomatic efforts had clearly failed or been stalled for far too long.

Sharon “would never abandon a Jew to remain a prisoner of the Arabs,” said Weisglass, when pressed to explain how Sharon's approach to the crisis would have differed from that of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.