CAIRO: Egyptian state media say authorities are considering the release of a suspected Israeli spy held since June. Ilan Grapel was arrested in Cairo on June 12 and has been held without charge. The 27-year-old was born in the United States. "Cairo is considering the release of Ilan Grapel, a US citizen accused of spying for Israel during the 25 January revolution, especially after promises from the US of offering more political and economic support in return," MENA said without elaborating. Egypt has accused him of being a Mossad agent. Israel denies Grapel is a spy, saying he was working for a Cairo legal aid project when he was arrested. The state news agency MENA says the US consul general and Grapel's parents visited him in detention Saturday. The agency reported that his parents said he was ill and appealed for his release. The report said Egypt's government is "responding to these demands for the sake of prosperity and more political and economic support" for Egypt. The agency did not elaborate. Two days after his arrest in Egypt, which in 1979 became the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman strongly denied he was spy. He insisted the whole thing was a mistake and accused Egyptian authorities of "bizarre behavior."
