It’s official…Israeli Druze Azzam Azzam, jailed for 15 years by Egypt in 1997 on charges of spying for Israel, was today released from prison and is back in Israel.
His release, of course, came at a price.
Azzam Azzam, an Israeli businessman jailed by Egypt in 1997 for 15 years on charges of spying for Israel, was released by Egyptian authorities on Sunday and crossed the border back into Israel early afternoon.Azzam passed through the Taba border crossing between Eilat and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.
In exchange for Azzam’s release, Israel released six Egyptian students arrested in August and charged with conspiring to abduct and kill Israel Defense Forces soldiers.—-Israel agreed to release the students when Gheit and Suleiman visited Israel last week, al-Ahram said.Israeli authorities arrested the students near the desert border between the two countries for crossing into Israel illegally, armed with an airgun and 14 knives. They were aged between 21 and 25.Prosecutors told Be’er Sheva Magistrate’s Court the students had plotted to kidnap IDF soldiers to use as bargaining chips for Palestinian prisoners.The students also intended to hijack an IDF tank, kill its crew and then rob a bank to get money that could be used to fund further attacks on Israel, the prosecutors said.Parents of the students have said in interviews that their sons had no political views and had gone to Israel merely to find work, as many young Egyptians have done.
What kind of job requires an airgun and knives, I wonder?
In any event, this exchange should illustrate a number of important things:
1. Despite the contentions of the anti-Israel crowd, Israel does care about all of its citizens. Azzam Azzam is not a Jew, yet the government have done all they can to secure his release. In this case, they have been willing to release Egyptian terrorists.
2. This seems like good news for those of you who, like me, cannot stand the thought of Marwan Barghouti being released from prison. As recently as last month, there was talk of a possible Pollard-Azzam/Barghouti prisoner release deal. With the release of Azzam today, Barghouti’s chances of release are slimmer. This is especially true, considering Egyptian Prime Minister Mubarak’s opposition to the idea of Barghouti running for the position of PA leader.
3. There seems to be a manifest warming of ties between Egypt and Israel, as reported by Ha’aretz:
Hints that Egypt would return its ambassador to Israel emerged following a visit to Jerusalem last Wednesday by Gheit and Suleiman.Egyptian sources have signaled that Egypt will return its ambassador to Israel once Israel-Palestinian peace negotiations are restarted, Israel Radio reported Sunday.The overall improvement in relations was evident in recent statements made by Mubarak suggesting that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon could make significant progress in peacemaking.Relations between Mubarak and Sharon had been cool through most of the four-year Intifada.“It will be very difficult to secure advancements in the peace process in the post-Sharon era,” Mubarak said at the weekend.
Perhaps the positive shift in relations began with the October terror attacks in Sinai. The subsequent loss in tourism may have forced Egypt to realize that terrorism can hurt them too.
In the meantime, I would like to extend a hearty congratulations to Azzam Azzam and his family.
