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Egypt frees alleged Israeli spy Grapel in swap deal | Egypt frees alleged Israeli spy Grapel in swap deal |
(about 17 hours later) | |
US-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel has arrived in Tel Aviv after being freed by Egypt as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. | US-Israeli citizen Ilan Grapel has arrived in Tel Aviv after being freed by Egypt as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. |
Mr Grapel, who was detained in June on spying charges, flew from Cairo, accompanied by Israeli officials. | Mr Grapel, who was detained in June on spying charges, flew from Cairo, accompanied by Israeli officials. |
The exchange saw Israel release 25 Egyptian prisoners, who crossed by land back into their home country. | The exchange saw Israel release 25 Egyptian prisoners, who crossed by land back into their home country. |
Correspondents say that despite regional turmoil, the deal shows the two countries can still do business. | Correspondents say that despite regional turmoil, the deal shows the two countries can still do business. |
Mr Grapel is expected to meet briefly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before flying to New York. | Mr Grapel is expected to meet briefly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem before flying to New York. |
Israel and his family deny the accusations against Mr Grapel, a former soldier, saying he was working for a charity in Cairo and never sought to conceal his identity. | Israel and his family deny the accusations against Mr Grapel, a former soldier, saying he was working for a charity in Cairo and never sought to conceal his identity. |
'Fine and smiling' | 'Fine and smiling' |
The 27-year-old was handed over to Israeli officials in Cairo before the flight to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. | The 27-year-old was handed over to Israeli officials in Cairo before the flight to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport. |
Earlier, Israel Hasson, an Israeli lawmaker who has been involved in the negotiations, told AP news agency from Cairo that Mr Grapel was "fine" and "smiling". | Earlier, Israel Hasson, an Israeli lawmaker who has been involved in the negotiations, told AP news agency from Cairo that Mr Grapel was "fine" and "smiling". |
Egyptian state television showed some of the Egyptians bowing down in prayer as they arrived on home soil, after passing through the Taba border crossing. | Egyptian state television showed some of the Egyptians bowing down in prayer as they arrived on home soil, after passing through the Taba border crossing. |
Three minors were the first to cross, according to the Associated Press news agency. | Three minors were the first to cross, according to the Associated Press news agency. |
Interviewed by Egyptian television, two of them said they had been arrested after illegally crossing into Israel to sell contraband cigarettes. They said they were not ill-treated while detained in Israel. | Interviewed by Egyptian television, two of them said they had been arrested after illegally crossing into Israel to sell contraband cigarettes. They said they were not ill-treated while detained in Israel. |
Another of those freed, Rabia Suleiman, had been serving a four-year jail term on drugs charges. | Another of those freed, Rabia Suleiman, had been serving a four-year jail term on drugs charges. |
Asked what he would do on his return, he said: "I'll come here and find any job, and I won't go back." | Asked what he would do on his return, he said: "I'll come here and find any job, and I won't go back." |
Mr Grapel was arrested on 12 June and accused of trying to stir up sectarian strife in Cairo on behalf of the Israeli spy agency Mossad. | Mr Grapel was arrested on 12 June and accused of trying to stir up sectarian strife in Cairo on behalf of the Israeli spy agency Mossad. |
His relatives say he made no attempt to disguise his identity, including the fact that he had served in the Israeli army during its war in Lebanon in 2006. | His relatives say he made no attempt to disguise his identity, including the fact that he had served in the Israeli army during its war in Lebanon in 2006. |
There is widespread scepticism in Egypt that Mr Grapel really was an Israeli spy. | There is widespread scepticism in Egypt that Mr Grapel really was an Israeli spy. |
Israel has stressed that none of the Egyptians released was involved in security-related crimes. | |
Its security cabinet approved the exchange on Tuesday. | Its security cabinet approved the exchange on Tuesday. |
On Wednesday the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a victims' rights group against the swap, saying it was a political decision outside the court's jurisdiction. | On Wednesday the Israeli Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a victims' rights group against the swap, saying it was a political decision outside the court's jurisdiction. |
A similar appeal against the release of Sgt Gilad Shalit was also rejected. | A similar appeal against the release of Sgt Gilad Shalit was also rejected. |
Last week Israel released the first batch of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier. | Last week Israel released the first batch of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier. |
He had been held by the militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, since 2006. | He had been held by the militant group, Hamas, which controls Gaza, since 2006. |
It appears the deal to release Mr Grapel was negotiated around the same time as the Shalit exchange, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem. | It appears the deal to release Mr Grapel was negotiated around the same time as the Shalit exchange, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem. |
It shows that Egypt is still capable of dealing with Israel on business-like terms and reminds regional rivals such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia that Cairo's influence is real, despite the change of government, our correspondent says. | It shows that Egypt is still capable of dealing with Israel on business-like terms and reminds regional rivals such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia that Cairo's influence is real, despite the change of government, our correspondent says. |