CAIRO: Egypt and Israel are expected to agree on a prisoner swap deal that would see some 20 to 30 Egyptians currently being held in Israeli jails exchanged for an American-Israeli duel national detained last summer in Cairo, Egypt's state-run MENA news agency reported on Saturday. Among the prisoners expected in the deal for Ilan Grapel are three children, a senior official was quoted by the news agency as saying. It comes after an Israeli official told Bikyamasr.com that a deal for 27-year-old Grapel, who was arrested in Tahrir Square and said to have been attempting to stir unrest in the country and deliver information to Israel, was close. Initially, as many as 70 prisoners were being included in the trade. “In response to the demands of the families of Egyptian prisoners held in Israel, the cabinet has decided that the Foreign Ministry coordinate with all the concerned security entities to take the necessary steps to return those prisoners to their homeland,” cabinet spokesman Mohamed Hegazy said on Friday. “This includes the exchange of the accused Ilan Grapel with those prisoners and taking the necessary legal steps involved.” Earlier in the week, Egyptian officials said that a deal was close and could be completed in the next few days for Grapel. He was detained on espionage charges and Egyptian officials said initially that he had been attempting to “stir strife” in the country. In recent weeks, however, Egyptian officials have publicly stated Grapel is not a spy, but continue to hold him indefinitely, despite calls for his release from both Tel Aviv and Washington. Egypt's al-Ahram newspaper also reported that Grapel could be released soon. According to their Wednesday report, a judicial source claimed the case would be put in front of the Supreme Court on security matters for a ruling. Earlier this month, Egyptian officials said they were looking for a prisoner swap with Israel for the young man. According to reports, Egypt had been asking Israel to free 78 Egyptians held in Israeli prisons in exchange for Grapel, who has been detained and held in Cairo since June. The demands were reportedly handed to United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta during his recent visit to Cairo. Grapel was arrested in June following several visits to Tahrir square, a focal point for the January 25 Revolution. Israel has denied Grapel is a spy, with the Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman saying he was “maybe a bit strange or irresponsible, but he has no connection to any intelligence service — not in Israel, not in the US, and not on Mars.” Grapel served in the IDF as a paratrooper and has claimed to have been working for a legal aid project in Cairo. His presence in Cairo was monitored before his arrest, say Egyptian officials. BM
