Supreme state security prosecution, headed by judge Hisham Badawi, has decided to renew the detention of alleged Israeli Mossad officer Ilan Chaim Grapel for 15 days. Grapel is accused of spying and harming Egyptian national security. The public prosecution received a report claiming Grapel was assigned to missions for Israel, like recruiting spies, collecting information, and monitoring the January 25 Revolution. Allegedly, he was also assigned to show up at demonstrations and provoke protestors to riot and to drive a wedge between the people and the army, leading to lawlessness and harming the political, economic and the social interests of the country. A group of Israelis have asked the family of the alleged spy to launch a fierce media campaign against Egypt, like the one launched by the family of Gilad Shalit, the kidnapped Israeli soldier in Gaza. These Israelis argue that pressure on Egypt must continue, especially because Grapel has American citizenship, which should be used to pressure Egypt. An Israeli television report said the relations between Egypt and Israel are tense, and this tension has increased since the alleged Israeli spy was detained, especially because there were rumors saying he would be released. In reality, these speculations had no proof, and Egypt intends to refer Grapel soon to be tried. Some Israelis have begun to call Grapel “Cairo's Shalit" in an attempt to provoke the Israelis to link Ilan with Gilad.
