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| Africa: North | |||
| Egypt Frees Israeli Spy in Prisoner Swap | |||
| 2004-12-05 | |||
| EILAT, Israel (AP) - Egypt freed an Israeli Arab man convicted of spying in exchange for Israel's release of six Egyptian students Sunday, a swap that signaled a warming of relations between the two countries. Israel may also release Palestinian prisoners in the future, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said. Egypt released Azzam Azzam, who was sentenced in 1997 to 15 years in prison after an Egyptian court convicted him of espionage. At the time, Azzam ran a textile factory in Egypt, and Israel has denied he was an agent. The case against Azzam was based, in part, on allegations he used invisible ink to transmit information. Israel, in turn, released six Egyptian students who had sneaked into the country in August and were arrested on suspicion they tried to kidnap Israeli soldiers and commandeer a tank. Azzam's imprisonment has been a key point of friction between Israel and Egypt, whose ties remain cool despite their 1979 peace treaty, and the students' arrest had angered many in Egypt. But Israel's relations with the Palestinians and with Egypt have been steadily improving since the death last month of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The transfer took place at the Taba crossing between Israel and Egypt. After Azzam crossed into Israel in a van, he was taken to a nearby airport at the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Israeli security officials who accompanied Azzam said he cried and flashed a victory sign as he emerged from the van. Several hours later, he boarded a small military aircraft, smiling an waving before takeoff. Asked by reporters how he was, he said: ``Very good. Thank you, thank you.'' Azzam briefly spoke to his wife Amal, as well as to Sharon, from Eilat. ``Azzam, I can't believe it's you,'' his wife told him, looking faint and emotional as the family cheered in the background. Sharon told Azzam he had worked hard for his release and that ``the entire country is united in happiness over your return home.'' Azzam was expected to undergo a medical check before returning to his family in the northern Israeli village of Mughar. His brother, Iftan, said the family only found out earlier Sunday that he was about to be released. ``We invite the whole state of Israel to celebrate with us,'' Iftan Azzam told Israel Radio. Sharon said in a statement Sunday that he was considering releasing an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners as part of the swap with Egypt. More than 7,000 Palestinians are being held by Israel.
Azzam was arrested by Egypt in November 1996. At the time, he was the director of a textile factory in Egypt under joint Israeli-Egyptian ownership. The case against him included women's underwear allegedly soaked in invisible ink.
The arrests of the six Egyptian university students - and the recent shooting deaths of three Egyptian policemen by Israelis along the border - had inflamed public sentiments in Egypt. Israeli officials said the six crossed into Egypt after their release. A security officer in the Egyptian city of al-Arish, near the border with Israel, said forces in the area were preparing to receive them. Another Egyptian security official said the students may face charges in Egypt for illegally crossing the border.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #8 I tried a search that included all words. Maybe I need the advanced manual, Ship... |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-12-05 6:00:57 PM |
| #7 It pretty obvious you aren't a member of the Silver Searchers AP. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-05 4:58:11 PM |
| #6 I tried the search on Google, Shipman. No matches. In fact, it was so weird of a request that there was a statement there that said, "WTF is this?" LOL! |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-12-05 4:28:57 PM |
| #5 Jeeez.... .com you saying the staff handles the hmmm... merchandise? Damn now that could cause seething, it also explains the bizzare google image requests from that area. I mean Camel, panties, smoking, sailor suit? I just don't know. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-12-05 4:19:27 PM |
| #4 Lol! "This guy got jugged not for espionage but for handling womens' underwear." FYI for the RB femalians: in Saudi there are many lingerie stores - largely answering the "What's under that burqha?" question... but did you know that the staff of these emporiums are all men? Obvious - after the fact... So, um, need some help in the fitting room? I'll send Ahmad on the double... Double-heh. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-12-05 1:32:02 PM |
| #3 Those guys must have gotten a bag of White Slag at their all-nighter to hatch that hare-brained plot. Mebbe their controller was into it. So for all the armor chaps out there, a question: What security is there to protect from unauthorized entry and starting of a tank? Just out of curiosity. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-12-05 1:24:59 PM |
| #2 Sounds like one of those Brilliant Ideas hatched during an all-nighter... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-12-05 12:19:57 PM |
| #1 Great Islamic Ideas™ "Hey! I know what we can do! We can steal a Joooooo tank! No, really! Stop laughing!" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-12-05 10:01:54 AM |