Egypt-Israel swap frees businessman, six students

By Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson
Knight Ridder Newspapers

DAVID SILVERMAN / GETTY IMAGES Israeli Azzam Azzam embraces his wife, Amal, yesterday in Israel's northern Galilee after his release from an Egyptian prison.

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JERUSALEM — Egypt yesterday freed an Israeli businessman it had jailed for eight years on espionage charges, and Israel reciprocated by freeing six Egyptian students, important steps toward repairing relations between the two Middle East powers.

Relations have been cool at best since Israel and Egypt signed a peace agreement a quarter-century ago. The Israeli military response to the Palestinian uprising of the past four years sent the relationship to an all-time low.

Improved relations are seen as vital to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, especially as Israel prepares to withdraw its settlers and soldiers from the Gaza Strip, which borders Egypt, next year. Egyptian forces could be tapped to maintain security in the Gaza Strip following the withdrawal.

Besides seeking to revitalize its role in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Egypt's release of Israeli businessman Azzam Azzam is likely linked to its hopes of gaining U.S. approval and economic help. Among other things, Egypt wants a free-trade-zone agreement with the United States.

"I think we're seeing very positive developments in Israeli-Egyptian relations," Israeli Health Minister Danny Naveh said. "Egypt wants better relations and wants to take part in the diplomatic developments in the region. I hope this will continue."

Naveh worked for years on getting Azzam released from Egyptian jail. Azzam, a 42-year-old textile engineer and member of Israel's minority Druze sect, was arrested in Egypt in late 1996 on charges that he sent information about Egyptian industrial cities to the Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency.

The Egyptian authorities accused Azzam of transmitting the information through invisible ink on women's underwear. In a contentious trial, Azzam was sentenced to 15 years in prison in August 1997. An Egyptian accomplice was sentenced to 25 years.

Israeli leaders have steadfastly maintained that Azzam is no Israeli agent.

The six Egyptian students were arrested in August on charges of plotting to commandeer an Israeli tank and kill its crew.
 
"The trend is toward improvement, but the framework unfortunately is one of a cold peace," said Shimon Shamir, former Israeli ambassador to Egypt and a senior political analyst.

"There really is hatred" toward Israelis on the Egyptian streets, he said. "There is anti-Semitic literature and distortion of the Israeli-Palestinian situation. The media there make Israel look like a monster, and that is what Israelis find most unpleasant."

Nevertheless, "Egyptians need dialogue with Israel. They feel disengagement [from the Gaza Strip] is something that should happen. They want to see the region stabilized," Shamir added. "We'll now be able to have that dialogue and rapport with Egyptians in better atmosphere."

In the West Bank, Palestinian officials privately expressed outrage at the swap, one they had hoped would include jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti. Barghouti, who is serving five consecutive life terms in an Israeli military prison after being convicted of involvement in terror attacks, is considered a top contender for the Palestinian presidency in an election Jan. 9.

"Marwan's wife visited Egypt many times for this purpose, but now we rely on Hezbollah to release Marwan," a Palestinian official said, referring to the Lebanese militant group that has arranged other prisoner swaps with Israel.