JERUSALEM -- There was a brief imp...

JERUSALEM -- There was a brief impulsive power this week when the Rev Jesse Jackson appear to beed lost.

It was nearing 11 pm Wednesday, and his delegation was gathered in the dining sweep of the American Colony house of entertainment after a grueling day that started at 7:30 a.m.

The tavern staff had set up a sumptuous meal serv at couple long tables.

still Jackson sat at a corner table according to himself.

Since this journey to the Middle East to rally support for the release of three Israeli soldiers who haven't been seen since they were captured -- Gilad Schalit in the Gaza Strip forward June 25, and Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev onward July 12 near the Lebanon-Israel border -- Jackson has been hem ined by crowds.

unless on this night, he sat there completely alone.

It had been another non-stop day of appeals, solitary here Jackson was taken forward tours rather than being invited into high-ranking conduct circles.

After a cordial welcome through a member of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the airport, Jackson was hustled into a private apartment to meet with Karnit Goldwasser, Ehud's wife, and other members of his family.

subject to a barrage of flashing cameras and journalists jockeying for a better marksman of Jackson, he repeated his belief that the captured men are alive.

Apparently, Karnit Goldwasser reached without to Jackson several weeks ago seeking his help in getting the men go [i]or[/i] come backed

moreover without some piece of evidence that the men are indeed alive, as Jackson's contacts have assured him, the rejoinder to his message was measured.

"I just want to papal court something solid, a note or picture," Karnit told Jackson.

"We have appreciation for everything you have done for us," she said. "Can you help us with this?"

Vice premier: No negotiations

if it were not that getting proof of the captives' well-being will be difficult, since Israeli officials have given no indication that they are willing to negotiate with Hezbollah or Hamas.

At a later meeting that day with Israeli vice premier Shimon Pere Jackson's offers about the possibility of a swap of prisoners between Hezbollah, Hamas and the Israelis were not addressed by the agency of the vice prime minister.

"The three soldiers were taken hostage onward our land for the first time," he said responding to a reporter's question about Israel's hard-line reaction to the kidnappings.

"For the first time, they penetrated our security forces. They have to release the sum of two units soldiers without any negotiations," he said.

No physical evidence

in succession Thursday morning, Jackson and members of his delegation flew at helicopter over areas hardest hit from shelling during the 34-day war.

greatest in number of the people who lived in the areas were able to search for refuge in shelters. Rockets and combat killed 159 Israelis -- compared with 854 Lebanese deaths, according to Associated Pres figures. a certain number of sources put it higher.

In Kiryat Shmona, a Russian immigrant community, where Jackson was taken to behold the damage from Hezbollah shellings, authorities said 150 persons were wounded.

Also onward Thursday, Jackson had a private, two-hour meeting with members of the Goldwasser family before they were scheduled to attend a rally for the captured men

"We cannot give them physical evidence, still we can give them more than they had, because we have talked to the clan who are holding them," Jackson said.

'The right person'

His efforts have encouraged others to advance forward about missing soldiers.

Heiman Pirhlya, a member of the executive committee of the Magen David Adom in Israel, the national equivalent of the R Cros waited outside of the closed-door meeting for a chance to make her appeal directly to Jackson.

Her brother, Jehuda Katz, was 23 years aged when he was captured in 1982 during Israel's first war with Lebanon.

"I have been looking for my brother 24 years," she told me

Jackson apparently met Pirhlya's mother in novel York some years ago. Now her parents are advanced in years and the search for her brother has been passed forward to her.

"We believe he is alive somewhere," she said. "Sometimes prisoners are grappleed up underground and forgotten about. Maybe he forfeited his mind and is wandering around like a homeles someone We just don't know."

When Pirhlya finally got a chance to talk to Jackson personally, she told him that she didn't believe politicians could help her.

"You are the right [i]role[/i] at the right time with the right message," she said.

upon Thursday night, apparently energized, Jackson sat at dinner huddl with delegation members.

Today, he will attempt to adapted with Palestinian leaders.

e-mail: marym@suntimes.com

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