CAIRO: Egyptian presidential candidate Hazem Salah Abu Ismail rejected the upcoming Israeli-Egyptian prisoner exchange, as long as Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman is not amongst the released prisoners. Abdel Rahman, also known as the Blind Sheikh, was convicted of conspiracy related to the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing. Abu Ismail was astonished at the swap deal being conducted without publicizing the details of the deal. “There is not enough information about the crimes that the Egyptians committed, or about the prisoners themselves,” Abu Ismail said. “However there is news that says these Egyptian prisoners were living among the Israeli community and have Israeli citizenship and are accused of harassment and drug addiction.” Ismail continued, “Thus if this news is confirmed, the likely released prisoners are not honorable and resistant people.” The presidential candidate also noted there is no legal foundation for the deal because the Israeli spy has not been tried.
